Chandigarh Police registers FIR based on Haryana IPS officer’s ‘final note’

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The Chandigarh Police late on Thursday registered an FIR taking cognizance of a “final note” left behind by Haryana IPS officer Y Puran Kumar, who allegedly died by suicide on Tuesday. The FIR came hours after Kumar’s wife and senior IAS officer Amneet P Kumar sought Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini’s intervention to ensure the registration of an FIR, and suspension and arrest of those named in the “final note” by her husband.Amneet, in a police complaint on Wednesday, had demanded an FIR against Haryana DGP Shatrujeet Kapur and Rohtak SP Narender Bijarniya.“An FIR (No. 156) under Section 108, read with 3(5) BNS and 3(1) (r) Prevent of Atrocities (SC/ST) Act, has been registered against the accused mentioned in the final note. Further investigation is underway,” Chandigarh Police said in an official statement.Though the “final note”, which was being construed as the “suicide note/ dying declaration”, named nine serving IPS officers, one retired IPS officer and three retired IAS officers elaborating their specific roles alleging mental and administrative torture, it was not known if any of them has been named as “accused” in the FIR registered at Sector 11 police station.Also Read | IPS officer Y Puran Kumar alleges caste bias in ‘suicide note’, names top officersA senior Chandigarh Police officer, however, told The Indian Express that “we have taken cognizance of the final note written by Y Puran Kumar and role of all those whom he had named, shall be investigated”.Kumar’s wife Amneet, who was yet to give consent for the autopsy of her husband’s body, earlier in the day urged Saini for lifelong security to the family “since powerful, high-ranking officials of Haryana are involved in the case”.Amneet made the demands through a representation she handed over to Saini when he reached her official residence at Sector 24. Saini, who earlier in the day returned to Chandigarh after concluding a three-day official visit to Japan, reached Amneet’s residence and spent nearly an hour there.Story continues below this adAs per an official statement, Saini conveyed his condolences and assured Amneet of appropriate action.Read | IPS officer Puran Kumar was known for speaking up against caste bias, administrative issuesAmneet is the commissioner and secretary of the Haryana government’s Department of Foreign Cooperation and was in Japan as part of the delegation led by Saini. She returned to India on Wednesday on getting the news of her husband’s death.After CM reached his own official residence, DGP Kapur met Saini and, sources privy to the development said, narrated the sequence of events. Neither Saini nor Kapur spoke with the media. Saini also cancelled his scheduled press conference.Sources told The Indian Express that Chandigarh Police’s top brass were in touch with the senior officials at Union Home Ministry and were contemplating initiating legal action on Amneet’s formal complaint and the purported suicide note recovered from Kumar’s residence. “It is a sensitive matter involving lots of aspects that need to be looked into. Investigation is going on,” a senior Chandigarh Police officer said.Story continues below this adAlso Read | IPS officer’s suicide: SC commission issues notice to Chandigarh chief secy and DGPIn the four-page representation that Amneet handed over to Saini, she demanded, “Immediate registration of FIR against all the individuals named in the suicide note and the accompanying complaint (lodged by her Wednesday); immediate suspension and arrest of all accused persons to prevent interference, tampering of evidence, or influence over the investigation; and provision of permanent security cover for her family, especially two daughters, who are under serious threat and mental distress; and protection of the family’s rights and dignity as we continue to face harassment and fear from those responsible”.“It is most distressing that, despite the existence of a clear and detailed suicide note and a formal complaint, no FIR has been registered till date. The suicide note explicitly names the individuals responsible for creating an atmosphere of harassment, humiliation and mental torture, which directly led to this tragic act. This note constitutes a dying declaration and must be treated as crucial evidence demanding immediate legal action,” she said in the representation .She further questioned “lack of action by Chandigarh Police” despite the lapse of more than 48 hours.