A Haryana Police officer who was investigating an extortion case involving the staff of IPS officer Y Puran Kumar has allegedly died by suicide in Rohtak. The officer, identified as Sandeep Lathar, reportedly shot himself at a farmhouse in Ladhaut village, officials said.
According to the police, a pistol and a suicide note were recovered from the scene. Lathar, who was currently posted with the Cyber Cell, had earlier arrested Sushil Kumar, a staff member serving under IPS officer Puran Kumar, in connection with an alleged extortion case.
The shocking incident occurred just days after the Special Investigation Team (SIT) visited Rohtak on 11 October to probe the case linked to Puran Kumar’s staff.
Sources said Sandeep Lathar’s body was found in a room at his farmland in Ladhaut village. Police reached the spot soon after being informed and began their investigation.
Lathar had been leading the probe into a case where Sushil Kumar was accused of collecting “monthly payments” from a liquor businessman. IPS officer Puran Kumar’s IAS wife, Amneet P Kumar, had earlier claimed that her husband was being deliberately framed in a corruption case in Rohtak.
“She had alleged that a conspiracy was being hatched to trap her husband in a false case,” the source added.
Before his death, Lathar reportedly left behind a suicide note and a six-minute video, in which he made several serious allegations related to the ongoing investigation.
Rahul Gandhi Meets Puran Kumar’s Family, Slams Haryana Govt
Meanwhile, in a related development, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi met the family of IPS officer Y Puran Kumar, who was found dead with a gunshot wound at his Chandigarh home last week. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Gandhi said Kumar’s death symbolised “the respect of all Dalits”.
“Haryana police officer Y Puran Kumar’s death is about the respect of all Dalits,” Gandhi said while demanding immediate action from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini. “You arrest them,” he said, referring to the officials named in the note, as per news agency PTI.
Gandhi’s comments came hours after the state government sent DGP Shatrujeet Kapur on leave and transferred Narendra Bijarniya, former Rohtak Superintendent of Police. Both were among the eight senior officers named in the purported note left by Puran Kumar, in which he accused them of caste-based harassment, mental torture, and public humiliation.
During his visit to the family in Chandigarh, Gandhi met Amneet P. Kumar, her two daughters, and other relatives. He said the government must honour its promise of a fair inquiry.
“My message as a LoP (Leader of Opposition) to the prime minister and the chief minister of Haryana is that the commitment you have given to these two daughters, you fulfil it and let their papa’s funeral take place and stop this ‘tamasha’,” he said.
The family has reportedly not consented to an autopsy yet. Gandhi added that the family was “giving a simple message… they need respect.”
He accused Chief Minister Saini of failing to ensure a fair probe despite his personal assurance to the family.
“A tragedy has taken place. He was a government officer and the chief minister gave personal commitment to the family that a free and fair inquiry will be held,” Gandhi said. “For many years, systematic discrimination had been happening to demoralise this officer, to damage his career, his reputation.”
The Congress leader further said the issue went beyond one individual, calling it a matter of dignity for Dalit communities across the country.
“The wrong message is going to crores of Dalit brothers and sisters in the country… that no matter how successful, intelligent or capable you may be, if you are a Dalit, you can be suppressed, crushed and thrown away,” Gandhi remarked. “Give him respect after his death. If you do not give respect, then it is not acceptable to us.”
