New Delhi, Oct 10: Congress leader Sonia Gandhi has expressed deep sorrow over the death of senior IPS officer Y. Puran Kumar, who allegedly took his own life earlier this week, and strongly condemned what she described as the “prejudiced and biased attitude” of those in authority that continues to deny even senior officials their right to social justice.
In a heartfelt letter addressed to Amneet P. Kumar, an IAS officer and the wife of the deceased, Sonia Gandhi conveyed her condolences and extended solidarity on behalf of herself and “millions of Indians” who, she said, share the family’s grief and their pursuit of justice.
“The news of the tragic death of your husband and senior IPS officer, Mr. Y. Puran Kumar, is both shocking and deeply saddening. My heartfelt condolences to you and your entire family in this time of immense difficulty,” Gandhi wrote. She went on to add, “The passing of Mr. Y. Puran Kumar is a painful reminder that even today, the prejudiced and biased attitude of those in power deprives even the most senior officials of social justice. I and millions of people across the country stand with you on this path to justice. May God grant you patience, courage, and strength in this difficult situation.”
Puran Kumar, aged 52, was a 2001-batch IPS officer who most recently served as Inspector General at the Police Training Centre (PTC) in Sunaria, Rohtak. He was found dead at his Chandigarh residence in Sector 11 on Tuesday, having reportedly shot himself with his service weapon. His wife, Amneet Kumar, serves as Commissioner and Secretary in the Haryana government.
The incident has sparked widespread shock and concern within bureaucratic and political circles, with growing calls for a transparent and impartial investigation into the circumstances leading to the officer’s death.
According to reports, Kumar left behind an eight-page suicide note, in which he detailed years of alleged mental harassment and humiliation by his superiors. The note purportedly names eight senior officers, including Haryana DGP Shatrujeet Kapur and Rohtak SP Narendra Bijarniya, accusing them of sustained professional victimization and bias.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, the Chandigarh Police have constituted a six-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the case. However, Kumar’s family has so far refused to allow the post-mortem examination, citing “incomplete and inaccurate details” in the FIR registered by the authorities.
The case has also triggered administrative ripples. The Haryana government, facing mounting pressure and public scrutiny, transferred SP Narendra Bijarniya on Saturday, pending the outcome of the inquiry.