In a sharply worded hearing on Friday, the Punjab and Haryana High Court questioned whether the charge of abetment of suicide could even stand in the case of IPS officer Y. Puran Kumar, who allegedly took his own life in Chandigarh earlier this month.
The court's remarks came while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking transfer of the probe from the Chandigarh Police to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Background
The petition, filed by Navneet Kumar, President of an NGO, sought a CBI inquiry citing “systemic bias and caste-based discrimination” faced by the officer. Kumar, a Haryana cadre IPS officer, had reportedly shot himself on October 7.
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His suicide note named senior officers, including Haryana DGP Shatrujeet Kapur and former Rohtak SP Narendra Bijarniya, alleging harassment and caste-based humiliation. Following public outrage, both officers were temporarily removed from their posts.
Court's Observations
During the hearing, Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sanjiv Berry repeatedly pressed the petitioner's counsel to explain how Section 306 of the IPC (abetment of suicide) could be invoked based on the current allegations.
"Looking into gravity of allegations, can 306 be made out by this kind of charge? Show us one Supreme Court case where conviction was passed in such facts," the bench asked pointedly.
Adding a practical note, the Chief Justice remarked,
"CBI is already quite overburdened. Let’s not casually pass orders for transfer of probe… you have to show some lapse in the investigation."
The bench also observed that since the case is being investigated by the Chandigarh Police, concerns of bias did not immediately arise.
"Had it been Haryana Police, that would be different," Justice Nagu noted.
Decision
After hearing brief submissions from all sides-including the counsel for Chandigarh Police, who informed that three IPS officers are already part of the SIT-the Court adjourned the matter.
More time was granted to the petitioner’s counsel to prepare his arguments before the bench takes any call on transferring the probe to the CBI.
Case Title:- Navneet Kumar v UOI & Ors
