After CM’s visit, FIR registered in ASI Sandeep’s suicide case

Hours after Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini visited the bereaved family of Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Sandeep Lather in Ladhaut village, the local police on Wednesday registered an FIR on the complaint filed by his wife, Santosh Devi, in connection with his suicide case.

Following the registration of the case, senior district police and civil officers held a prolonged meeting with the family to convince them to allow the post-mortem examination. The efforts succeeded late at night, after which Sandeep’s body was shifted to PGIMS, Rohtak.

“The FIR has been registered, but we have not yet received a copy. The body has now been handed over to the police for the post-mortem examination, which will be conducted at PGIMS on Thursday,” said Sanjay, Sandeep’s cousin, while speaking to The Tribune after the meeting.

Sandeep’s body had been kept in a freezer at his maternal uncle’s house in Ladhaut since Tuesday, as the family refused to permit the autopsy until the FIR was filed against those named in his suicide note and video.

The 40-year-old ASI ended his life on Tuesday afternoon, shooting himself with his service pistol in a room located in a field on the outskirts of Ladhaut. In his note and video message, Sandeep had accused late senior IPS officer Y. Puran Kumar, his family, and subordinates of corruption.

After the incident, the body was taken to his maternal uncle’s home by family members and villagers. Sandeep, a native of Julana in Jind district, was posted with the Cyber Cell at the Rohtak SP office. He was part of the police team that had arrested Sushil, a subordinate of the late IPS officer, in an extortion case involving a liquor businessman.

A day later, Y. Puran Kumar died by suicide in Chandigarh on October 7.

Throughout Wednesday, a large number of villagers and political leaders visited Sandeep’s house to express condolences. Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini also met the family separately and assured them of justice. A heavy police deployment was maintained in the village to ensure peace.

Heart-rending scenes unfolded when Sandeep’s elder daughter arrived and broke down beside her father’s body, calling out for him. His sisters wept inconsolably, recalling him as “an honest and dedicated police officer who always performed his duty with integrity.”

The grief-stricken family and villagers spoke in hushed tones about his death, expressing anguish over what they described as “deep-rooted corruption in the system.”