SI suicide: Officials see love angle, kin want genuine probe

The deputy commissioner said Sathish Kumar had spoken to the woman even on Tuesday night for over an hour, before killing himself a few hours later. Rajendran said they believed the woman was a city resident and added that they were trying to trace her whereabouts. 

But those who have worked with Sathish Kumar, including his superior officers, were not convinced about this, alleging that the line of probe could be a ploy to divert the issue. They are seeking a detailed investigation behind the suicide to reveal what led to it. 

“That he committed suicide at the police station using a pistol indicates that he has tried to communicate something,” said an officer on condition of anonymity. 

According to this officer, Sathish Kumar was unrelenting in his effort to nab history-sheeters in his jurisdiction despite threats from them. To outline how he was as a police officer, his former senior recalled how Sathish Kumar was an intelligent cop who was keen on eliminating gangsters. “He had single-handedly caught one of the gangsters without the help of the force. To claim that he decided to end his life over love affair looks like a character assassination attempt,” said the officer. 

Meanwhile, at his hometown in Kumbakonam, Sathish Kumar’s former colleagues, officers of his batch and senior officers from the district attended his funeral on Thursday. His brother Ganesh Kumar said, “I hope officials do a proper investigation to ascertain the reason for his death.”