Haryana police book Kumar’s wife and three others in ASI suicide case

In Rohtak, Haryana, assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Sandeep Lathar, 41, was found dead from a gunshot wound on Tuesday in Ladhot village. A suicide note and a six-minute video were recovered from his body, in which he accused late inspector general (IG) Y Puran Kumar and his family of corruption. Following this, the Rohtak police registered a First Information Report (FIR) against Kumar’s wife, senior IAS officer Amneet P Kumar, her brother, Bathinda MLA Amit Rattan, exemptee ASI Sushil Kumar, and another police officer, Sunil, on charges of abetment to suicide and criminal conspiracy.

The FIR was registered under Sections 108 (abetment to suicide) and 61 (criminal conspiracy) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, along with state ministers Mahipal Dhanda and Krishan Lal Panwar, visited Lathar’s family to offer condolences and assured them of a fair and transparent investigation. Haryana CM’s OSD Virender Singh Badhkhalsa also informed the family about the FIR and requested consent for the post-mortem. Lathar’s family had initially refused consent for the autopsy until the FIR was registered.

The post-mortem was conducted at the Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (PGIMS), Rohtak, and Lathar’s last rites were scheduled to be performed in his native village Julana in Jind with full state honours. The government has also assured Lathar’s family a job for his wife, in accordance with her qualifications. Administrative officials have promised a time-bound and fair probe into the case.

Background of the case and political fallout

ASI Sandeep Lathar was posted in the cyber cell in Rohtak. According to colleagues, he was an honest and skilled officer, known for analysing call data records (CDR) and DVRs. He was part of a team that intercepted and arrested Sushil Kumar, an associate of late IG Puran Kumar, following a complaint by liquor contractor Praveen Bansal. Lathar had been upset in the days before his death after being questioned by a special investigation team (SIT) of Chandigarh police. His colleagues said that Sushil Kumar had threatened him with dire consequences for arresting him.

The late IG Y Puran Kumar, who had served in Rohtak and was posted as Inspector General at the Police Training Centre in Sunaria, Chandigarh, had reportedly shot himself at his Chandigarh residence on October 7. Lathar, belonging to the Jat community, claimed to have “ample evidence” against Kumar, who was from the Dalit community. A day before Kumar’s death, Lathar had been actively involved in the Rohtak CIA-2 team’s operation against Kumar’s associate.

The case has created political controversy. Opposition leaders, including former Haryana CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda and INLD leader Abhay Singh Chautala, have demanded a fair and impartial investigation under the supervision of a sitting judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

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The controversy has led to administrative changes in the Haryana Police. DGP Shatrujeet Kapur was placed on leave, and OP Singh, a 1992-batch officer, was appointed as acting police chief. Rohtak Superintendent of Police Narendra Bijarniya was also transferred. Both Kapur and Bijarniya were mentioned in Puran Kumar’s “final note,” in which he accused them of caste-based discrimination and harassment.

A special investigation team (SIT) has been formed by Chandigarh Police to investigate the circumstances surrounding Kumar’s death. Meanwhile, Lathar’s family has created an 11-member committee to represent their interests and ensure transparency throughout the investigation.

The suicide note and video left by Lathar allegedly detailed corruption and misconduct by Kumar and his family, bringing multiple high-ranking officials and political figures under scrutiny. Lathar’s family members, including his cousin Sanjay Deswal, have been actively involved in coordinating with authorities to ensure the investigation proceeds fairly and promptly.

This case has also highlighted risks faced by honest police officers working against corrupt elements. Colleagues of Lathar described him as dedicated and technically skilled, often putting himself at risk in the line of duty. His death has raised questions about the safety of law enforcement officers and the pressure they face while investigating high-profile individuals.

The state government has promised a time-bound investigation and assured the public that all leads will be pursued. The FIR, administrative changes, and formation of the SIT indicate that authorities are taking the allegations seriously. Political leaders, residents, and activists continue to monitor developments closely, emphasizing accountability and transparency in the probe.

The case remains under investigation, with authorities focused on uncovering the complete circumstances surrounding Lathar’s death, recovering evidence, and holding any guilty parties accountable. The involvement of multiple senior officials and politicians has added complexity to the investigation, making it one of the most closely watched cases in Haryana in recent times.