Chandigarh: In a significant move following the suicide of IPS officer Y. Puran Kumar, Haryana’s Director General of Police (DGP) Shatrujeet Kapur has been placed on leave. This decision comes after Kapur’s name surfaced in a First Information Report (FIR) related to the tragic death of the officer, who was found dead under mysterious circumstances earlier this month.
Kapur’s suspension comes just days after Rohtak’s Superintendent of Police (SP) Narendra Bijarnia, another official named in the FIR, was reassigned. This is seen as an attempt by the Haryana government to respond to growing public outcry over the incident and the explosive allegations made in a suicide note left by the deceased officer.
The nine-page note, which detailed serious charges of caste-based discrimination and administrative bias, specifically accused DGP Kapur, SP Bijarnia, and several other high-ranking officers, including both serving and retired officials of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and Indian Police Service (IPS), of malpractice. The allegations pointed to issues of favoritism in promotions, postings, and the Annual Performance Review (APR) process.
Confirming the development, Chief Minister’s Media Adviser Rajeev Jaitley stated that Kapur had been placed on leave, though no further details regarding the specifics of the investigation have been shared. The tragic incident has intensified political scrutiny on the state government, particularly within the context of rising criticism from opposition parties concerning alleged atrocities against Dalit communities.
The BJP-led Haryana government is under increasing pressure to address concerns raised by the officer’s death, with the move to place Kapur on leave seen as an attempt to demonstrate accountability. The incident follows a period of heightened tensions between the state administration and the family of the deceased officer, especially over delays in conducting his post-mortem. This situation was compounded by the last-minute cancellation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled rally in Sonepat on October 17, which was initially planned to commemorate one year of the Saini government.
Haryana DGP Shatrujeet Kapur, a seasoned officer of the 1990-batch, had been appointed as Haryana’s DGP in August 2023, following the retirement of P. K. Aggarwal. His tenure, which was to last two years, has now been overshadowed by the serious accusations linked to the tragic death of his subordinate.
While no official announcement has been made regarding his replacement, sources suggest that a reshuffling of top police leadership is imminent. Among the names being discussed as potential replacements is Mohammad Akil, a 1989-batch IPS officer, who currently serves as Commandant General of the Home Guards. Akil, who was superseded by Kapur in 2023, is the most senior officer in the state police force. Other notable contenders include S.K. Jain, Director General of the Human Rights Commission, and OP Singh, Director General of the Haryana State Narcotics Control Bureau, both of whom are also senior officers with significant experience.
The allegations in Puran Kumar’s suicide note have sent shockwaves through administrative and political circles, not only in Haryana but across the nation. The late officer, who was married to senior IAS officer Amneet P. Kumar, had reportedly expressed frustrations over what he perceived as systemic bias and a lack of fairness in his professional life, contributing to the growing unease within the state police force.
As investigations into the case continue, the tragic death of Y. Puran Kumar remains a focal point of political discourse and scrutiny, with the Haryana government facing mounting pressure to take swift and transparent action to address the allegations raised.
