Haryana IPS officer's 'suicide': Chandigarh Police moves court for directions to family to identify
Chandigarh (PTI): With the family of Haryana IPS officer Y Puran Kumar, who allegedly committed suicide, refusing to give consent for his autopsy, the Chandigarh Police on Tuesday moved a court here to seek direction to his family to identify the body for a postmortem examination.
On the police's plea, the local court issued a notice to Kumar's wife and IAS officer Amneet P Kumar to file a reply either personally or through counsel on October 15, failing which the application will be decided on merits.
Kumar, 52, allegedly shot himself dead on October 7. However, the postmortem of his body is yet to be conducted as his family has been insisting for action against officers who have been named in a "final note" of the deceased officer.
Kumar's body has been kept at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research.
The Chandigarh Police on Tuesday said it was constrained to move a local court for direction to the family to come forward for identification of the body for the postmortem.
Police earlier requested the family through the investigating officer, the senior superintendent of police and inspector general of police for the autopsy of the Kumar's body.
It was conveyed that it is absolutely vital at this stage that the postmortem be conducted at the earliest to preserve important forensic evidence and in the interest of justice, said a statement of the Chandigarh Police on Tuesday.
Police also moved the court for direction for the production of a laptop of the deceased officer for further investigation.
The family has not yet handed over the laptop, allegedly used by Kumar to type his "final note", to the police.
Police also said notices have been issued to the Haryana government for providing certain documents.
Police had earlier said that a board of doctors was constituted for the autopsy in the presence of executive magistrate, ballistic expert, toxicology expert, forensic expert, and fingerprint expert with videography and photography.
On Sunday, a 31-member committee which was recently formed to seek "justice" for the deceased officer's family gave a 48-hour ultimatum to act against Haryana DGP Shatrujeet Kapur and Narendra Bijarniya, who was recently transferred as Rohtak SP.
Jai Narayan, spokesperson of the committee, told reporters here Tuesday evening that the committee will hand over a memorandum to Punjab Governor-cum-Chandigarh Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria on Wednesday to demand appropriate action by the Chandigarh Police in the Kumar's "suicide" matter.
In an eight-page "final note" purportedly left behind by Kumar, he accused eight senior IPS officers, including Haryana DGP Kapur and now-transferred Rohtak SP Bijarniya, of "blatant caste-based discrimination, targeted mental harassment, public humiliation and atrocities".
Kumar's wife has demanded that Kapur and Bijarniya be named in the FIR for allegedly abetting her husband's suicide. The officer's family, which is also seeking their arrest, has refused to give consent for a postmortem and cremation until its demands are addressed.
The Haryana government Tuesday sent DGP Kapur on leave amid opposition's attack on the BJP dispensation over Kumar's alleged suicide, and demand by Kumar's family for action against the officers accused of harassing him.
"Yes, the DGP has been sent on leave by the government," said Rajiv Jaitly, media adviser to the Haryana chief minister.
Later, an official order dated October 14 said that O P Singh, a DGP rank 1992- batch IPS officer, has been assigned the "additional charge of DGP Haryana during the leave period of Shatrujeet Kapur..."
Singh is currently posted as Director General of Haryana State Narcotics Control Bureau; Managing Director, Haryana Police Housing Corporation, Panchkula; and Director, Forensic Sciences Laboratory, Madhuban.
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Siddaramaiah, I will abide by Cong high command decision on leadership issue, says Shivakumar
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Sunday said both he and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will abide by any decision takeb by the Congress high command on the leadership issue in the state.
Speaking to reporters after returning from Delhi, the Congress state president said, he has full faith in the party leadership and that it would take an approapriate decision at the appropriate time.
The remarks comes amid speculations within the party and political circles about a possible leadership change and cabinet reshuffle after May 4, when the results for assembly elections in four states and one union territory, along with bypolls to two assembly segments in the Karnataka are announced.
"I will not speak about political issues before the media. I have already said that when the time comes you will get to know. So I will not tell you," Shivakumar said in response to a question on discussions with the Congress high command during his Delhi visit over the last couple of days.
He asserted that there are no issues within the party, and whatever has been already decided will take place accordingly.
Responding to a question on senior Minister Satish Jarkiholi's reported statement about internal differences, the Deputy CM said, "nothing like that, they (high command) will do what they have to do at the appropriate time."
"There are no issues, we have faith in our party, they will do what they have to," he added.
Asked about the issue of leadership change as the government is about to complete three years in office, Shivakumar said, "... I have never discussed this issue. The CM and I have both said that we will accept whatever and whenever the high command decides, and we will abide by it."
He declined to comment when asked whether any "good news" can be expected by his birthday on May 15.
The leadership tussle within the ruling party has intensified amid speculation about a possible change of chief minister after the Congress government completed the halfway mark of its five-year term on November 20, 2025. The speculation has been fuelled by the reported "power-sharing" arrangement between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar at the time of government formation in 2023.
Responding to a question on the BJP's criticism against the Congress government over its decision on internal reservation for Scheduled Castes, alleging injustice to several communities and questioning its intent behind the revised quota formula, Shivakumar said the BJP could not do anything on internal reservation while in power, but the Congress has kept its promise.
"We have found a solution and tried to do justice to all sections among SCs. We have fulfilled the promise made and every one should go together," he said.
Shivakumar warned his party workers against erecting flex banners for his birthday on May 15.
"For May 15, I want to tell everyone that no one should put up flex banners or advertisements for my birthday. If flex are installed I will ensure that cases are registered by authorities against those responsible, whether they are party workers or followers....no one should put such things on roads, this is my personal request," he said, adding that he has asked commissioners of the city corporations to register cases and impose heavy fines.
