Last words Haryana ASI Sandeep Lathar told friend before suicide
What's the story
Haryana Police Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Sandeep Kumar Lathar allegedly died by suicide on Tuesday, just hours after he met friends at a tea stall near the Rohtak bypass, according to the Indian Express. His friends noticed something was off with him during the meeting, recalling that he seemed "troubled and distracted." After receiving a phone call, Sandeep abruptly left, telling his friends he was returning to his office. This was not true, one of his friends later said.
Tragic end
Something was troubling Sandeep, says friend
"He had called around 11am, saying, 'let us meet here for tea and a chat.' It was our usual hangout place. Four-five of us reached and the topic...was the way the death of IGP Puran Kumar was being handled," Sandeep's friend Sanjay Deswal said. Puran was found dead with a gunshot wound at his residence last week. "It appeared that the suicide was troubling Sandeep, and he did not like the direction in which the probe was headed," he said.
Friend
Sandeep left behind note
"He left on his bike and I assumed he was going back to the cyber cell. I, too, returned home and within an hour heard about his death. Then, the video of a farm laborer saying he had seen a body with a gunshot wound went viral," Sanjay added. Sandeep was found dead with a gunshot wound at his uncle's house. He left behind a note and video message, accusing IPS officer Puran of bribery, extortion, and sexual harassment.
Video
Accused IPS officer of corruption
Sandeep alleged that Puran replaced honest officers with corrupt ones and that he used his caste for corruption activities. He was part of the team that intercepted Sushil Kumar, an associate of Puran, in early October. "Sushil had abused him and threatened to face dire consequences for arresting him," a colleague told Hindustan Times. Sandeep claimed he had "ample evidence" against the IPS officer, saying Puran had "killed himself to avoid family humiliation."
Puran
Puran died on October 7
Puran allegedly died by suicide at his residence on October 7, leaving behind a note naming eight IPS officers for harassment and maligning his image. In his nine-page "final note," he named 16 officers, accusing them of harassment and discrimination. The allegations included caste-based discrimination, public humiliation, and mental harassment, among others. Amid an ongoing probe into the suicide, the Haryana government sent Director General of Police (DGP) Shatrujeet Kapur on leave. He was cremated on Wednesday.
Legal proceedings
FIR against IPS officer's family
The same day, the Haryana Police registered an abetment of suicide case based on Sandeep's note and video. The FIR registered after his death named Puran's wife Amneet P Kumar, brother-in-law MLA Amit Rattan, exemptee ASI Sushil Kumar, and another cop, Sunil, in connection with the case. The FIR was registered under Sections 108 (abetment to suicide) and 61 (criminal conspiracy) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).