A wave of shock spread across the Haryana Police department after Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) V. Poonam Kumar, a senior and respected IPS officer, allegedly shot himself dead at his government residence in Sector 11, Chandigarh on Tuesday morning. The tragic incident has left both the police fraternity and administrative circles stunned.
According to police sources, Kumar was found lying in a pool of blood in the basement of his residence. He was immediately rushed to Sector 16 Government Hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival. Forensic teams and senior police officers reached the spot to collect evidence and begin an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.
Preliminary information suggests that the ADGP had borrowed a gun from a security personnel on Monday. On Tuesday morning, when his daughter went to the basement, she discovered him critically injured. It was she who immediately alerted the neighbors and informed the police.
At the time of his death, V. Poonam Kumar, a 2001-batch IPS officer, was posted as the ADGP at the Police Training College in Sunaria, Rohtak. Over the years, he had served in several key positions, including postings in Gurugram, Rohtak, and Ambala, and was known as a disciplined, honest, and straightforward officer.
His wife, IAS officer Amanpreet P., is currently in Japan as part of an official delegation. She has been informed of the incident and is reportedly preparing to return to India immediately.
Police have recovered a weapon and some documents from the residence. Though it appears to be a case of suicide, officials said the exact motive behind the act remains unclear. “All aspects of the case are being investigated thoroughly,” said a senior police official.
Sources also revealed that Kumar had raised several administrative and departmental issues with the government in recent months. He was known to be vocal about transparency in postings and promotions within the police department.
The sudden demise of ADGP V. Poonam Kumar has left a deep void in the Haryana Police. Colleagues and officers remembered him as a “principled and upright officer” who always stood for integrity and professionalism in policing.
