Punjab & Haryana High Court dismissed a PIL demanding a CBI probe into IPS officer Y. Puran Kumar’s suicide, noting active investigation by the SIT. Police informed the Court that 14 accused have been named and 22 witnesses examined so far.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Wednesday dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed to seek a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the suicide case of Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Y. Puran Kumar, who belonged to the Dalit community.
A Division Bench consisting of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sanjiv Berry observed that the petitioner, Navneet Kumar, failed to explain how the PIL was maintainable in this matter.
The Bench also noted that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was already investigating the case, making a CBI probe unnecessary at this stage.
ALSO READ: IPS Officer Y Puran Kumar Suicide: PIL in Punjab & Haryana High Court Seeks CBI Probe
Taking note of the investigation’s progress, the Court said,
“It does not appear that there is any unnecessary delay or laxity in investigation till date. In view of the above, no case for handing over investigation to any independent agency is made out and therefore the present petition stands dismissed.”
Earlier, on October 10, the Court had directed the Chandigarh Police to submit a progress report on the investigation.
During Wednesday’s hearing, Amit Jhanji, Senior Standing Counsel for the Union Territory of Chandigarh, informed the Court that 14 persons have been named as accused in the case so far. He further stated that 22 witnesses have already been examined by the investigating authorities.
Jhanji told the Court that
“The entire CCTV footage has been procured and secured and 22 exhibits have also been collected and sent to forensics.”
The tragic incident occurred on October 7, when IPS officer Y. Puran Kumar allegedly shot himself dead at his residence in Chandigarh.
In his suicide note, he accused several officers, including Haryana Director General of Police (DGP) Shatrujeet Kapur and then Rohtak Superintendent of Police (SP) Narendra Bijarniya, of caste-based discrimination and targeted harassment.
Kumar’s wife, Amneet P. Kumar, a senior IAS officer, has been vocal in her demand for justice for her late husband. Following the widespread public outcry over the case, both DGP Kapur and SP Bijarniya were temporarily removed from their posts.
The case took another turn when another police officer, Sandeep Lathar, who had earlier arrested one of Kumar’s aides in a separate case, also died by suicide. Lathar’s death added more controversy, as he allegedly made corruption allegations against Kumar and his family members in his note.
In an earlier hearing, the High Court had questioned whether the charge of abetment of suicide could be legally sustained against the accused persons.
The Bench had also made it clear that it was not inclined to transfer the case to the CBI, as the Chandigarh Police, which is considered a neutral agency, was already handling the investigation fairly.
Senior Advocate Amit Jhanji and Advocate Abhinav Sood appeared for the Chandigarh Administration in the matter.
With the Court satisfied that the SIT was progressing without delay, it found no justification to hand over the case to any other agency, thereby dismissing the PIL.
Read More Reports On IPS Officer Puran Kumar
