FIR registered over ASI Sandeep Lather’s death; CM Nayab Saini, Opposition leader Hooda express condolences

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A first information report was registered on Wednesday (October 15, 2025) in connection with the alleged suicide of Assistant Sub-Inspector Sandeep Lather on Tuesday, accusing the late IPS officer Y. Puran Kumar and his family of corruption, officials said. The case was registered a few hours after Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Saini met with the family at Ladhot village during the day and assured them justice and all possible assistance.

After registration of the case, the family gave its consent for post-mortem and agreed to perform the last rites of the deceased policeman on Thursday afternoon at his native town Julana. The body was shifted to the PGIMS, Rohtak, late in the evening for the post-mortem, which is likely to be conducted by a board of doctors on Thursday morning.

Lather, posted at the Rohtak Police Cyber Cell, had ended his life after making allegations of corruption against Puran and his family in a four-page note and video. He is survived by his wife and three children, including two daughters.

IPS officer Puran, who held the post of Inspector-General, Police Training Centre in Rohtak’s Sunaria, had killed himself in his Chandigarh residence on October 7.

Rohtak Police spokesperson confirmed the registration of the FIR, but refused to comment on its contents. However, a source privy to the parleys with the deceased policeman’s family, claimed that four persons, including the late IPS officer’s wife and senior IAS officer Amneet. P. Kumar, his brother-in-law and Aam Aadmi Party MLA Amit Amit Rattan and Puran’s personal security officer (PSO) Sushil Kumar, already in jail in an extortion case, were named in the case. Lather’s wife is the complainant.

The source said the government had also agreed to the demands to grant martyr’s status to the deceased and a government job to the next of kin. Lather’s cousin Sanjay, however, refused to comment on this.

Earlier, Mr. Saini visited the family at the village and paid his condolences. “Today (on Wednesday), upon reaching Ladhot (Rohtak), I met with the family members of the late ASI Sandeep Lather ji and shared in their sorrow. I pray to God that He grant peace to the departed soul and give the family the strength to bear this pain during this difficult time. In this hour of grief, I assured the bereaved family of justice and gave the family members confidence in appropriate action and all possible assistance,” read a post on the official “X” account of Mr. Saini.

Former Chief Minister and Leader of the Opposition, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, also reached Ladhot to express his condolences and demanded that the entire episode involving two suicide cases in Haryana be thoroughly investigated. “The government should conduct this investigation under the supervision of a sitting High Court judge so that no culprits are spared, and innocent people are not implicated,” he stated. Indian National Lok Dal national president Abhay Chautala also visited the village to pay his respects to the departed soul.

Besides the political leaders, a large number of locals from the neighbouring villages, too, turned up to pay their last respects to the policeman. Rajesh Dahiya, a resident of Nigana village, said he knew Mr. Lather for past over a decade and he had come across to him as “honest” and “helpful” policeman. “He has made a supreme sacrifice by laying down his life for the cause of truth and justice,” said Mr. Dahiya.