Another death, another note: Fresh allegations shake foundations of Haryana police probe Sandeep Kumar’s death has completely altered the trajectory of the Puran Kumar case — flipping its core narrative from one of caste-based victimization to possible corruption and internal rot within the police force.
The suicide of Haryana IPS officer Y. Puran Kumar sparked national outrage, painting a grim picture of caste-based harassment within police ranks. But in a shocking turn of events an officer connected to the case — ASI Sandeep Kumar — on Tuesday allegedly died by suicide, leaving behind a video and handwritten note accusing Puran Kumar of corruption, intimidation, and sexual misconduct.
Puran Kumar, a 2001-batch IPS officer, was found dead at his official residence in Chandigarh on October 7. His nine-page suicide note named several senior officers, accusing them of humiliating him over his Dalit identity and subjecting him to relentless harassment. His death triggered massive protests with wife, IAS officer Amneet P. Kumar, leading demands for justice. Now, ASI Sandeep Kumar’s family is demanding Amneet’s arrest, igniting debate over corruption, institutional integrity, leaving the Haryana government, in particular its police department, under intense scrutiny.
In a video reportedly recorded just hours before his suicide, ASI Sandeep Kumar made serious allegations against Puran Kumar, accusing him of being deeply corrupt, not some helpless victim of caste oppression as portrayed in his suicide note. Sandeep accused him of running a “pay money, get your posting” system after being posted in Rohtak, alleging that transfers and promotions were up for sale.
He alleged that Puran Kumar replaced honest officers with loyalists, blocked critical files, and accepted bribes to manipulate outcomes. He also claimed that women police personnel were sexually exploited in exchange for transfers. Sandeep said he was offering his life as a sacrifice for the sake of truth. “The country will awaken when we sacrifice ourselves on the path of truth,” he declared, praising former Rohtak SP Narendra Bijarnia—one of those named in Puran Kumar’s note— as an honest officer and demanding a probe into the assets of Puran Kumar and his family, saying their property should be scrutinized.
He ended the message by asserting that his act was meant to “awaken” public consciousness and reiterated that he had lived honestly.
Puran Kumar was found dead in Chandigarh, leaving a note alleging caste-based harassment by senior Haryana officers. Following outrage, DGP Shatrujeet Kapur was sent on leave, Rohtak SP Narendra Bijarnia was transferred, and an SIT was formed. His wife Amneet P. Kumar sought charges under the SC/ST Act.
But Sandeep Kumar’s death has completely altered the trajectory of the Puran Kumar case — flipping its core narrative from one of caste-based victimization to possible corruption and internal rot within the police force.
Until now, the death of Puran Kumar was being viewed largely through the lens of caste discrimination and institutional harassment. His nine-page note, his wife’s emotional appeals, and protests by Dalit groups built a picture of a victimized officer crushed by systemic bias. But ASI Sandeep Kumar’s suicide has thrown the entire narrative into question.
By directly accusing Puran Kumar of corruption, intimidation, and sexual misconduct, Sandeep’s death introduces a counter-narrative that challenges the martyr image built around the IPS officer. It also raises uncomfortable questions about the credibility of Puran Kumar’s own allegations and the conduct of those demanding justice in his name. Politically, the incident has complicated things for the Haryana government, which is already under pressure over police accountability and caste sensitivities. The SIT now faces the task of investigating both suicides into the multi-layered case.
