Haryana IPS officer’s death: Shatrujeet Kapur relieved from DGP charge

Two months after he was sent on leave amid a controversy over the death of IPS officer Y. Puran Kumar, the Haryana government removed IPS Shatrujeet Kapur from the post of Director General of Police.

OP Singh, who has been additionally transferred as state police chief in Mr. Kapur’s absence, has been appointed DGP in-charge until further orders.

With Mr. Singh, a 1992-batch IPS officer, retiring on December 31, the Haryana government is likely to send a panel of names of senior IPS officers to the Union Public Service Commission to appoint a new state police chief.

Mr. Kapur, a 1990-batch IPS officer, will continue to head the Haryana Police Housing Authority, Panchkula, according to an official order. Mr. Kapur, an engineering graduate, was appointed as the state police chief in August 2023.

On October 14, Mr. Kapur was placed on leave amid mounting criticism from opposition parties over the death of IPS officer Y. Puran Kumar. Mr Singh was later awarded additional DGP charge.

Mr. Kumar (52), a 2001-batch IPS officer, was found dead on October 7.

In an eight-page note allegedly left behind by him, Kumar accused several senior officials, including Shatrujeet Kapur, of “blatant caste-based discrimination, targeted mental harassment, public humiliation and cruelty”.

Following pressure from political parties, the Haryana government first suspended Rohtak Police Commissioner Narendra Bijarniya and later sent Shatrujeet Kapur on leave.

Kumar’s wife, IAS officer Amneet P. Kumar, gave approval for the autopsy a week after the death after receiving assurances from the Chandigarh Police that a fair investigation would be conducted and an undertaking from the Haryana government that action would be taken against “erring” officials.