CHANDIGARH: Amid the stalemate over the autopsy of Haryana-cadre IPS officer Y Puran Kumar, the Haryana government has sent DGP Shatrujeet Kapur on leave.
Following the latest developments, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s proposed visit to Sonipat on October 17 was cancelled.
Chief Minister’s Media Adviser Rajeev Jaitly confirmed that Kapur has been sent on leave.
"Yes, the DGP has been sent on leave by the government," confirmed Jaitly.
Meanwhile, the state government has given additional charge of Haryana DGP to Om Prakash Singh, a 1992-batch IPS officer currently serving as Managing Director of the Haryana Police Housing Corporation and Director General of the Haryana State Narcotics Control Bureau.
Singh, who is due to retire on December 31 this year, will hold the post during Kapur’s leave.
The late-night decision comes just days after Narendra Bijarnia, the then Superintendent of Police (Rohtak), was transferred and remains without a posting.
The government’s decision to suspend the DGP comes amid growing pressure following allegations in a nine-page ‘Final Note’ left by the deceased IPS officer and is also seen as an attempt by the BJP government to send a strong signal to the SC community.
In the note, Kumar accused eight senior IPS officers, including Kapur and Bijarniya, of caste-based discrimination, mental harassment, public humiliation, and abuse of authority.
Kumar’s wife, senior IAS officer Amneet P Kumar, has demanded that Kapur and Bijarniya be named in the FIR for allegedly abetting her husband's suicide. The family has refused to consent to the post-mortem and cremation until action is taken.
PM Modi's visit cancelled
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s proposed visit to Sonipat on October 17 for the first anniversary celebrations of the Nayab Singh Saini-led BJP government has also been cancelled.
In addition, Saini’s visit to Nuh for the state-level Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti celebrations on Tuesday has also been called off.
PM Modi was scheduled to address the ‘Jan Vishwas–Jan Vikas’ programme at Education City, Rai in Sonipat, and launch several new initiatives. While no official reason has been given for the cancellation, sources said the situation following the IPS officer’s suicide was not conducive for the Prime Minister’s visit.
“The rally stands cancelled,” said a senior BJP leader.
CM Saini had earlier chaired a cabinet meeting on Sunday to discuss the event preparations and had met officers from various departments to review arrangements for the rally.
