Former staffer of late IGP Puran Kumar shifted from Rohtak to Ambala jail after threat complaint

Following allegations of life threats, Sushil Kumar, an Exempted Assistant Sub-Inspector (EASI) and former staff member of the late IGP Y Puran Kumar, was today shifted from Rohtak’s Sunaria Jail to Ambala jail.

Confirming the development, Director General of Prisons Alok Kumar Roy told ‘The Tribune’ that the transfer was carried out after a formal request from Sushil’s wife, Soni Devi.

“As soon as the request letter was received on Monday, orders were immediately issued to shift Sushil Kumar to Ambala jail. He was transferred today, and the Rohtak jail superintendent has also been directed to inquire into the allegations in the letter,” Roy said.

Sushil is currently under judicial custody in connection with an extortion case registered at the Urban Estate Police Station in Rohtak on October 6, a day before IGP Puran Kumar died by suicide at his home in Chandigarh. He is also an accused in the suicide case of ASI Sandeep Kumar Lather in Rohtak.

In a detailed letter to senior authorities, including the Additional Chief Secretary (Home), Director General of Prisons, the Punjab and Haryana High Court, and the District and Sessions Judge, Rohtak, Soni Devi claimed that her husband faced “severe and immediate threat to life” at Rohtak jail.

“My husband is not an ordinary prisoner. He is the main and sole witness in the high-profile case related to the death of the late IPS officer Puran Kumar. He is the only person who can provide truthful information to the court,” she wrote.

The letter further alleged caste-based targeting, stating: “Our family belongs to the Scheduled Caste (SC) and we believe we are being targeted because my husband is a key witness in a case that involves serious provisions of the SC/ST Act.”

Soni Devi claimed that her husband had been receiving threats and facing harassment from inmates and had reached a breaking point.

“On the morning of November 2, my husband made a distress call to my son, weeping, and said he was being threatened of dire consequences by other inmates named Sanjeev and Vikas inside Rohtak Jail. His life is under serious threat and anything could happen to him at any time. My son and entire family are living in fear,” she wrote.

The DGP (Prisons) has directed the Rohtak Jail Superintendent to conduct an internal inquiry into the allegations even as Sushil begins his custody in Ambala jail under enhanced monitoring.