PIL before Punjab and Haryana High Court seeks CBI probe into suicide of Y Puran Kumar IPS

A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition has been filed before the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the death of Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Y Puran Kumar.

The petition filed by one Navneet Kumar from Ludhiana, who is the President of an NGO, came up before a Bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sanjiv Berry.

However, the Court adjourned the PIL after the counsel representing the petitioner sought time to make submissions.

Kumar allegedly shot himself dead at his residence in Chandigarh on October 7. In his suicide note, he blamed various officers including Haryana DGP Shatrujeet Kapur and then Rohtak SP Narendra Bijarniya for the extreme step. Kumar alleged caste-based discrimination and targeted harassment.

Kumar's wife is senior IAS officer Amneet P Kumar. She has been at the forefront demanding justice for her husband, who was from the Dalit community.

Following a hue and cry, both DGP Kapur and Bijarniya have been temporarily removed from their positions. Adding to the controversy, another police official Sandeep Lathar, who had arrested an aide of Kumar in another case, subsequently died by suicide this week. He is stated to have leveled corruption charges against Kumar and also blamed the IPS officer's family members.

The counsel for the petitioner today told the High Court that the two suicides have shaken the society's conscience.

"Senior officials are committing suicide and alleging victimization, naming more than a dozen IPS and IAS officers. It is a matter of concern. Some central agency can conduct fair investigation," he submitted.

According to the petitioner, the death of a senior IPS officer with an exemplary record is a serious institutional matter and cannot be treated as a routine suicide without examining all factors and individuals named in the suicide note.

However, the Court asked the counsel to address the Court on the parameters laid down by the Supreme Court for transfer of probe to the CBI. The counsel could not answer and sought time to make submissions.

In response, a counsel appearing for Chandigarh Police - which is investigating Kumar's death, submitted that a Special Investigation (SIT) is probing the matter. The counsel challenged the locus of the petitioner.

"He [petitioner] is a resident of Ludhiana, he says he was visiting Chandigarh and read the newspaper, and got disturbed," he added.

The counsel added that the petitioner had failed to show any bias or political interference in the investigation. At this, the Court again asked counsel to address on guidelines for transfer of probe. The counsel for petitioner sought time.

The PIL was then adjourned.