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IAS officer Sanjay Popli’s son cremated after autopsy
While the final autopsy report is awaited, the initial findings attributed his death to a bullet injury in the head
Kartik Popli, son of arrested IAS officer Sanjay Popli, was cremated on Monday after the post-mortem examination.
The only son of Sanjay Popli, arrested on charges of corruption, had died of a gunshot wound at their house in Sector 11 on Saturday afternoon while a team of the Vigilance Bureau (VB) was reportedly at the house to effect some recoveries in the officer’s presence.
Even as the Chandigarh Police termed it a case of suicide, the family has been levelling murder allegations against VB.
The post-mortem examination was conducted by a panel of four doctors at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, under the supervision of additional deputy commissioner as part of the magisterial inquest.
The team of doctors was headed by Dr Yogendra Singh Bansal, head of forensic medicine department, PGIMER.
Dr Bansal said, “The port-mortem was conducted in the presence of police officials and the report will be submitted to the inquiry officer on Tuesday morning.” The entire two-hour procedure was videographed.
While the final autopsy report is awaited, the initial findings attributed the death to a bullet injury in the head.
Sources privy to investigation said the bullet went through the head and there were no other visible signs of injury on Kartik’s body.
Have full faith in government and judiciary: Popli
Kartik’s cremation took place at the Sector-25 cremation ground, where Sanjay Popli lit the pyre in the presence of family members and a large number of bureaucrats.
“We all are innocent. I have full faith in the government and the judiciary,” said Sanjay, who was brought for his son’s cremation by a Punjab Police team after a court allowed his application to attend the last rites.
“Let the law take its own course. I am here for my son’s mourning. I will not make any statement,” said Popli, refusing to say anything more.
On Saturday, hours after his son’s death, Sanjay, while being shifted from Mohali to GMCH, Sector 32, Chandigarh, had alleged on camera that his son was killed by the VB officials and that he was witness to the crime.
The family on Sunday had written to the Chandigarh DGP, alleging murder and demanding that the officer’s statement be recorded.
Police have yet to record the statement of the family members, including Sanjay, who is lodged in jail under judicial custody. Police are also awaiting autopsy and forensic reports.
