Puran Kumar IPS suicide: P&H High Court rejects PIL for CBI probe after police says 14 made accused

The Punjab & Haryana High Court on Wednesday rejected a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the suicide of Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Y Puran Kumar who belonged to the Dalit community.

A Division Bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sanjiv Berry said that the petitioner, one Navneet Kumar, had failed to satisfy how the PIL was maintainable in the matter. The Court also noted that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) is already probing the matter.

Taking into account the progress of investigation, the Court said,

"It does not appear that there is any unnecessary delay or laxity in investigation till date. In view of the above, no case for handing over investigation to any independent agency is made out and therefore the present petition stands dismissed," the Court ruled.

On October 10, the Court had asked Chandigarh Police to disclose the progress of investigation.

UT Chandigarh's Senior Standing Counsel Amit Jhanji today submitted that 14 persons have been arrayed as accused in the case. He also informed the Court that 22 witnesses have been examined till date.

"The entire CCTV footage has been procured and secured and 21 exhibits have also been collected and sent to forensics," Jhanji added.

Kumar had 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 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.

Following a public hue and cry, both DGP Kapur and Bijarniya were 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. He is stated to have leveled corruption charges against Kumar and also blamed the IPS officer's family members.

During an earlier hearing of the PIL, the Court had questioned whether the charge of abetment of suicide was made out in the case. It had also expressed a disinclination to transfer the investigation to CBI after noting that the probe was already being handled by a neutral agency - Chandigarh Police.

Senior Advocate Amit Jhanji and advocate Abhinav Sood represented Chandigarh Administration.