Haryana IPS officer's death: 9-page suicide note and liquor contractor link - What pushed IG Y Puran Kumar to take extreme step?

The Chandigarh police on Tuesday recovered a ‘will’ and a nine-page suicide note after Haryana inspector general of police (IGP) Y Puran Kumar was found dead with a gunshot wound at his residence.

According to the police, they found a handwritten note and a will near the body of the senior officer. While the police have not disclosed its contents, Hindustan Times reported that the note runs into nine pages and allegedly names certain officers in Haryana, holding them responsible for pushing the 2001-batch IPS officer to take the extreme step.

Link to Rohtak bribery case

According to Haryana Police officials, the alleged cause of suicide could be connected to a corruption case filed in Rohtak against Exemptee Assistant Sub-Inspector (EASI) Sushil Kumar, who was accused of demanding a bribe from a liquor contractor.

Rohtak Superintendent of Police (SP) Narendra Bijarniya said that the EASI allegedly demanded Rs 2.5 lakh from the contractor on behalf of IGP Puran Kumar, who at the time headed the Rohtak Range Police. “The liquor contractor had met the IGP two months ago, and the officer allegedly told him to cooperate with Sushil Kumar,” the SP was quoted by HT as saying.

Sushil Kumar was arrested on Monday and later sent to judicial custody. During interrogation, he allegedly confessed that he was collecting money on the IGP’s instructions. Officials also claimed to have audio and video evidence of the bribe negotiations.

“In his disclosure statement, Sushil told the police that Puran Kumar had asked him to collect money on his behalf. A case was registered against Sushil Kumar under provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act at Urban Estate police station in Rohtak. We have audio and video clips in which Sushil Kumar is demanding bribe from the contractor on behalf of the former Rohtak IG,” the SP added.

As per HT, a notorious gangster was also demanding ransom from the liquor contractor in question, Praveen Bansal, and Bansal met the then Rohtak IG Y Puran Kumar to seek police protection.

The suicide incident came to light around 1.15 pm on Tuesday, when Kumar’s 17-year-old daughter found him in the soundproof basement of their house. According to officials, two domestic helpers were also present in the house at the time.

Police believe the fatal shot was fired hours earlier, but the sound was not heard because the basement was soundproof.

Police said the officer used his gunman’s service weapon, which he normally kept for safekeeping. His wife, Amneet P Kumar, a senior Haryana IAS officer, was in Japan as part of a delegation led by Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini.

Kumar’s legal battles and unresolved struggles

Before being transferred on September 29 to the Police Training Centre, Sunaria (Rohtak), Kumar had served as IGP of Rohtak Range for five months. Over the years, he had been involved in several legal disputes with the state government.

Since 2021, he had approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court multiple times, challenging promotion decisions and postings. He had also accused a former DGP of harassment and professional bias.