HARYANA COP WHO BLEW THE WHISTLE ON SENIOR OFFICER GETS SACKED — AND ENDS UP IN HOSPITAL
Head Constable Sunil Sandhu posted on Facebook alleging a DSP threatened to frame him in a drugs case. Days later, he lost his job. Now he’s fighting for his health
A head constable from Kaithal, Haryana, who publicly accused a senior police officer of threatening to plant a false narcotics case against him has been dismissed from service on grounds of indiscipline — and has since been admitted to a private hospital, apparently broken by the ordeal.
Sunil Sandhu, a member of Kaithal’s anti-drug squad, was sacked after Superintendent of Police Upasna Singh held a press conference on Saturday outlining the department’s case against him. Two main charges were levelled: that he aired grievances against a superior officer on social media rather than through official channels, and that he had been routinely posting videos of drug raids and arrests from his personal accounts, which is prohibited under police rules.
How it all began
The chain of events that led to Sandhu’s dismissal started on 16 February, when his team conducted a drug raid under the NDPS Act in the City Police Station area. According to SP Singh, the operation failed because Sandhu did not follow mandatory legal procedure — under the NDPS Act, searches must be conducted in the presence of a gazetted officer at the scene, which did not happen. The entire case was compromised as a result, and DSP Gurwinder was tasked with finding out why.
That inquiry pointed the finger squarely at Sandhu. It was during this process that the situation took a dramatic turn.
The Facebook post that changed everything
On the night of 23 February, at 11:13 pm, Sandhu took to Facebook with a raw and emotional post that quickly went viral. He wrote that he had run the anti-drug campaign at the administration’s own direction, yet was now being mentally tortured and harassed. Most seriously, he alleged that Kalayt DSP Lalit Yadav had threatened to have him falsely implicated in a heroin-dealing case — in front of a senior officer. “I have a family. I have small children,” he wrote. “I am a descendant of Bhagat Singh. My conscience will die if I tell lies. Get my narco test done if you want.” He also stated that he had never accepted a bribe or even a cup of tea from anyone in his entire service career.
The department hits back
SP Upasna Singh said Sandhu’s post triggered a “trial by social media” that made conducting a fair inquiry impossible. A second inquiry, handed to Guha DSP Kuldeep Beniwal, concluded that Sandhu’s allegations against DSP Kalayt were baseless and without evidence. The SP accused Sandhu of misusing his uniform, spreading misleading information about the police, and using threatening language — including suggesting he would go on hunger strike and call upon his “brothers” if needed.
Two days before his formal dismissal, Sandhu and eight other members of the anti-drug team were sent to police lines pending action.
A cop now in a hospital bed
Since the controversy erupted, Sandhu’s health has deteriorated and he is currently admitted to a private hospital in Kaithal. He lives in the city with his wife, two young children and mother — his father having passed away previously. He had joined the force as a constable before being promoted to head constable, and was known locally for his social work through an NGO called Manavta Vishwas, which helped fund weddings for poor families and covered medical costs for the sick.
His dismissal has divided opinion sharply. To the department, he is an undisciplined officer who bypassed protocol and damaged the force’s reputation. To his supporters, he is a man who tried to fight the drug menace honestly — and paid the price for it.
