"He Was Corrupt": ASI's Final Video Accuses Late IPS Officer Puran Kumar Before Suicide, Twisting Haryana Case

Rohtak-  A tangled web of allegations, corruption charges, and now a second suicide has plunged the Haryana Police into a deep crisis. The death of IPS officer Y Puran Kumar , who died by suicide last week after leveling corruption charges against his colleagues, has taken a dark and unexpected turn with the death of another policeman connected to the case.

The body of ASI Sandeep Lather, posted with the Rohtak Cyber Cell, was found on Tuesday in Ladhot village near Makrauli Toll Plaza in Rohtak. Reports indicate he died by suicide at a tubewell in the fields.

Speaking on the matter, SP Rohtak Surendra Singh Bhoria said, “This was a hardworking ASI of our Police Department, Sandeep. He was very honest and hardworking. His body has been found. A Forensic team has been called here and an investigation is being carried out...He was posted in Cyber Cell.”

Before taking his own life, ASI Lather left a suicide note and chilling final video. In the video, he launched a series of grave allegations against the late IPS officer Puran Kumar, effectively turning the initial narrative on its head.

Lather, who was part of the team that investigated and arrested Punia's Personal Security Officer (PSO), Sushil Kumar, accused the senior officer of being "extremely corrupt." The allegations include:

• Extortion Racket: Lather claimed that as IG of Rohtak, Puran Kumar ran a massive extortion ring, deliberately posting corrupt officers to key positions to threaten and extort money from businessmen and the public.

• Sexual Harassment: He alleged that female police personnel were sexually exploited under the guise of transfers.

• Obstruction of Justice: Lather accused Y Puran Kumar of interfering in a murder case at the Sadar police station, claiming a deal of ₹50 crore was made to release an accused, Ravi Inderjeet.

• Cover-Up Motive: The ASI directly alleged that Puran Kumar died by suicide not because of the charges he made, but because his own "corruption was about to be exposed." He claimed the late IPS officer took his life to protect his family and their political interests.

Connection with initial case

The chain of events began with the suicide of 2001-batch IPS officer Y. Puran Kumar. He shot himself with a service pistol and died on the spot on October 7. The officer left behind a nine-page “final note” that named 15 serving and former officers. Chandigarh Police registered the FIR under Sections 108, read with 3 (5), of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 3(1) (r) of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act at the Sector 11 police station against those named in his “final note”. In his suicide note, Puran Kumar had alleged caste harassment by a "police lobby" including officers like DGP Shatrujeet Kapoor and SP Narendra Bijarnia.

The IPS officer was reportedly perturbed over the inclusion of his name in a bribery case on the complaint of a liquor contractor without the permission of the state government. The Rohtak Police on October 6, registered an FIR based on a complaint by the liquor contractor, who alleged that Kumar's aide Sushil Kumar had sought a bribe of Rs 2.5 lakh in the officer's name. On September 29, Kumar was transferred to the Police Training College in Sunaria in Rohtak. Previously, he was posted as the Inspector General of Police (Rohtak Range). The contractor, in a complaint, had submitted the CCTV footage and audio recordings as evidence to substantiate his allegations.

An FIR was subsequently registered at the Urban State police station in Rohtak against his PSO, Sushil Kumar, based on extortion allegations. The FIR claimed that Kumar was collecting money monthly on the "orders of the IG." ASI Sandeep Lather was a member of the team that arrested Sushil Kumar.

In his emotional final statement, Lather portrayed his act as a necessary sacrifice to awaken the public and the nation. He referenced Bhagat Singh multiple times, stating, "The truth has a great price... I am offering myself as the first sacrifice in this battle for truth."

He also alleged a cover-up was underway to protect Puran Kumar's family from scrutiny of their assets and alleged corruption.

The case has already triggered significant political repercussions. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi visited the state on Tuesday, hours after the government sent the DGP, Shatrujeet Kapoor on a long leave. SP Narendra Bijarnia had earlier been removed from his post following pressure from the community and the deceased IG's family.

With the death of ASI Lather and his explosive allegations, the focus has now shifted to the family of the late IPS officer, Puran Kumar. The Haryana Police department is now under the scanner, facing questions about an internal culture of corruption, extortion, and the intense pressure that led two of its own to take their own lives.