Haryana IPS Officer’s Suicide Case Deepens: Police Add Stronger SC/ST Act Charges After Wife’s Plea

CHANDIGARH, Oct 12: The Chandigarh Police have revised the First Information Report (FIR) in the alleged suicide case of senior Haryana IPS officer Y Puran Kumar, invoking stronger provisions under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, following a formal representation by his wife, IAS officer Amneet P Kumar.

Amneet, who had objected to what she described as the “diluted sections” mentioned in the original FIR, urged investigators to apply Section 3(2)(v) of the SC/ST Act, which prescribes life imprisonment and fine if an offence punishable with a term of ten years or more is committed against a member of the Scheduled Castes or Tribes. Acting on her plea, Chandigarh Inspector General Pushpendra Kumar, who heads the six-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted to probe the case, confirmed that the said provision has now been added to the FIR.

The inclusion of the new charge follows mounting pressure from the bereaved family, which has refused to consent to the post-mortem until their demands for a stronger legal response and clear identification of the accused are met. Amneet had specifically named Haryana Director General of Police (DGP) Shatrujeet Kapur and then Rohtak Superintendent of Police (SP) Narendra Bijarniya among those allegedly responsible for her husband’s death, accusing them of persistent harassment and caste-based discrimination.

The Haryana government, responding to the deepening controversy, transferred SP Narendra Bijarniya on Saturday, replacing him with IPS officer Surinder Singh Bhoria as the new Rohtak SP. Officials said Bijarniya’s new posting will be announced separately. The transfer came hours after Amneet’s complaint to SSP Kanwardeep Kaur, in which she demanded the immediate arrest of the accused officers and a revision of the FIR to include all applicable sections under the SC/ST Act.

The initial FIR, filed by Chandigarh Police on the basis of a “final note” allegedly written by the deceased IPS officer, contained charges under Section 108 read with Section 3(5) for abetment of suicide and Section 3(1)(r) of the SC/ST Act, which pertains to intentional insult or intimidation with the intent to humiliate a member of the Scheduled Castes or Tribes. The amended version now includes Section 3(2)(v), a graver charge that elevates the offence to one punishable with life imprisonment.

In his purported note, Puran Kumar, a 2001-batch IPS officer, reportedly named eight senior officers, including DGP Kapur and SP Bijarniya, accusing them of harassment, professional isolation, and caste-based humiliation. The letter also detailed multiple instances of alleged discrimination and workplace hostility, which he claimed drove him to take the extreme step.

The officer’s death has triggered widespread outrage across Haryana and beyond, drawing attention to issues of institutional discrimination within the police service. Several state ministers, including Krishan Lal Panwar and Krishan Kumar Bedi, along with Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi and Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Rajesh Khullar, visited the family in what was seen as an attempt to defuse tensions and persuade them to allow the post-mortem and cremation.

Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, breaking his silence on the matter, assured that strict action would be taken against anyone found guilty, irrespective of their rank or influence. He also appealed to opposition parties not to politicize the sensitive issue, emphasizing that justice would be delivered through a transparent and impartial investigation.

In solidarity with the deceased officer’s family, several political leaders and civil society representatives met Amneet P Kumar on Saturday, expressing concern over the alleged harassment that led to the tragedy. Meanwhile, a 31-member committee, the Shaheed Y Puran Singh Nyaya Sangharsh Morcha, has been formed to coordinate with authorities and ensure accountability. The committee announced plans to hold a mahapanchayat in Chandigarh to press for a fair and time-bound probe.

Puran Kumar, who was serving as Inspector General of Police (IGP) at the Police Training Centre (PTC), Sunaria, Rohtak, was known for his outspoken advocacy on service rights, transparency in postings, and fairness in seniority disputes. His wife has described his death as the result of “systematic persecution by powerful vested interests.”

The Chandigarh Police SIT, led by IG Pushpendra Kumar, has begun detailed investigations, seizing the officer’s personal notes and digital devices. Officials said the probe will cover all allegations of harassment, including caste-related misconduct, to ensure that “every dimension of the case is thoroughly examined.”