Puran Kumar’s aide Sushil posted with him without official order: Chargesheet

The police chargesheet against Sushil Kumar, an aide of IG Y. Puran Kumar, who died by suicide on October 7, has revealed that he had been temporarily posted with the officer without any formal order since 2021.

The chargesheet, dated November 22, against Sushil Kumar was filed before the court of the Additional District and Sessions Judge, Rohtak, Kapil Rathi, for allegedly seeking a monthly bribe from a liquor contractor on the officer's behalf.

The police have levelled Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act, Section 238 (c) of BNS (for disappearance of evidence), and Section 308 (3) of BNS (for extortion) against Sushil Kumar. Seventeen witnesses have been cited.

In her complaint to the Chandigarh Police, Puran Kumar's wife, IAS officer Amneet P Kumar, had cited the registration of the case as one of the reasons behind his suicide.

Contents of chargesheet

Liquor contractor Praveen Bansal had approached Urban Estate Police Station, Rohtak, on October 6, alleging that a police personnel, Sushil Kumar, had been seeking a monthly bribe of Rs 2.5 lakh from him and threatening him that if he did not pay, he would be framed in liquor smuggling cases. As per his complaint, Sushil told them that the bribe was to be paid to the then IG (Rohtak Range), Puran Kumar.

Bansal had submitted the audio recording and CCTV footage to the police. The forensic report confirmed that the voice in the audio recording matched that of Sushil.

ASI Sandeep Lather of the cyber cell had investigated Sushil's phones. Lather had allegedly died by suicide on October 14, levelling allegations of corruption against Sushil, and Puran Kumar.

The chargesheet claimed that to correct the comments of district SP in the ACR of ESI Roshan Lal, Sushil was approached, for which he was seeking Rs 1.25 lakh. These documents were part of office files of the IG (Rohtak Range).

As “criminal” acts of accused Sushil were not related to his official duty, permission under Section 17 A of the PC Act was not required, said the chargesheet. After adding Section 7 of the PC Act in the case, the investigation was handed over to DSP Gulab Singh.

On October 7, Sushil Kumar was arrested. The same day, Puran Kumar died by suicide. The chargesheet claimed that Sushil had confessed to seeking bribe from the contractor.

While working along with Puran Kumar, Sushil used to stay in the Circuit House. From April 1 to October 6, he had used five different mobile phones.

He used to eat at the mess of IG (Rohtak Range) office while mentioning his name as 'Reader Mahesh'. The incharge of the mess, Sanjay, identified him as 'Reader Mahesh'.

His service book reflected that he was deputed with Puran Kumar on September 14, 2021, on temporary duty. The SP (Ambala office) told the Rohtak police that no record was available of Sushil's posting with Puran Kumar. The office of Mahendragarh SP told the Rohtak police that Sushil was sent on temporary duty with Puran Kumar, but no written orders were received.

The IG (Rohtak Range) office also said there was no record of posting of the accused with Puran Kumar in any capacity.