IPS officer suicide case: No autopsy yet, mystery over 'final note'

CHANDIGARH: The mystery over Haryana ADG Y Puran Kumar ’s suicide lingered on Wednesday as the postmortem was deferred and rumours swirled around amid police’s silence on the contents of the nine-page ‘ final note ’ left behind by the IPS officer .

Kumar’s wife, IAS officer Amneet P Kumar, arrived in Chandigarh in the afternoon after cutting short her Japan trip as a member of CM Nayab Singh Saini ’s delegation. She went to her official residence in sector 24 for a while. At 3pm, she left for the sector 11 house where Kumar allegedly shot himself with his gunman’s service revolver. From there, she headed for the mortuary in the sector 16 govt hospital where the IPS officer’s body awaits an autopsy.

All this while, Amneet maintained distance from the media. When attempts were made to talk to her, she walked away with folded hands and in tears. In the hospital, she told officials present that she would “get justice at any cost”. She demanded a complete probe and told officials that she would not back down from any step to get justice, sources said.

Officers said Amneet did not agree to the postmortem on Wednesday, and the autopsy, as well as last rites, will be conducted only after the couple’s elder daughter returns from the US on Oct 9.

A police officer said Kumar had named at least seven serving and retired IPS officers in his final note, alleging that some seniors spoiled his ACR report and he faced unnecessary hurdles in promotion. He, however, did not name anyone specifically as the reason for his suicide, said sources, though he alleged that he was continuously harassed by officers of his own department. The note also spoke of his “stressful transfers” and “demeaning attitudes towards him” in social and professional environments.