The last rites of Haryana Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Sandeep Kumar Lathar were performed with full state honours in Julana, amid widespread grief and controversy surrounding the circumstances of his death. His wife, Santosh Lathar, has firmly rejected the narrative that her husband took his own life, calling instead for an impartial and transparent investigation into the incident. Fighting back tears, she told reporters, “My husband was a courageous man. He would never have done such a thing. I only request a fair probe from the Haryana administration. I have no other demand.” Her words have resonated deeply, fuelling growing public demand for accountability.
Sandeep Lathar, who served in the cyber cell, was found dead near a tubewell on the Rohtak–Panipat road earlier this week. The discovery shocked the police department, coming just days after the death of Inspector General (IG) Puran Kumar. Alongside his body, officials recovered a six-minute video and a handwritten note in which Lathar made serious allegations against the late IG Puran Kumar and his wife, senior bureaucrat Amneet Kumar. In the video, he accused the couple of deep-rooted corruption, political manipulation, and systemic caste-based discrimination within the Haryana Police. He further claimed he had been subjected to relentless pressure, harassment, and threats that drove him to the brink of despair.
The case gained further complexity because IG Puran Kumar, aged 52, had himself died by suicide on October 7 while posted at the Police Training Centre in Rohtak. His death occurred barely a week after his unexpected transfer from the Rohtak range, a move that reportedly unsettled him. The connection between the two deaths has since drawn intense scrutiny from both media and administrative circles.
Sandeep’s suicide note also referenced the controversial detention of Puran Kumar’s personal security officer (PSO), head constable Sushil Kumar, who was allegedly held illegally for five days and interrogated under duress. According to sources, these events formed a key link between the two officers’ deaths. Both men’s final communications reportedly exposed the inner turmoil and pressure within the police hierarchy, pointing to a toxic culture of intimidation, corruption, and political interference.
Adding to the allegations, one of the complaints mentioned in Sandeep’s note involves a bribery case where a liquor contractor accused Sushil Kumar of demanding Rs 2.5 lakh on behalf of IG Puran Kumar. These references suggest the existence of entrenched corruption and extortion networks operating within the system. Investigators are now examining whether Sandeep’s revelations were part of a larger attempt to expose these networks — and whether he was silenced for doing so.
In a show of remarkable strength, Sandeep’s young son spoke to reporters at the funeral, saying, “I am proud of my father. I will fulfil all his dreams.” His words reflected both pain and defiance, as the family vowed to continue seeking justice.
Following Santosh Lathar’s formal complaint, the Rohtak police registered an FIR under sections related to abetment of suicide and criminal conspiracy. In response, authorities formed a six-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the circumstances surrounding IG Puran Kumar’s death, while a parallel investigation continues into Sandeep Lathar’s death and the allegations he raised.
Given the gravity of the situation, the Haryana Police Department has undergone several administrative changes. Director General of Police (DGP) Shatrujeet Kapur was sent on leave, and Rohtak Superintendent of Police (SP) Narendra Bijraniya was replaced. The government has stressed that the investigation will be conducted with complete transparency and accountability.
Union Minister and former Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar visited the bereaved family, expressing condolences and assuring that the government would extend all possible support. He announced that Sandeep Lathar’s wife would be offered a government job and that the state would take responsibility for the education of the couple’s two children. Khattar also urged citizens not to politicise or communalise the tragedy, calling both deaths “deeply unfortunate” and a wake-up call for reform.
The twin deaths of IG Puran Kumar and ASI Sandeep Lathar have triggered a larger debate about systemic corruption, caste-based bias, and administrative failure within the Haryana Police. The emerging evidence of extortion, intimidation, and abuse of power has raised troubling questions about accountability in the force. As investigations continue, public pressure is mounting for a thorough, unbiased probe that exposes the truth and delivers justice to the families of the two officers who may have fallen victim to a broken system.
