PATIALA: A retired police officer once at the center of a politically charged firing case now lies in critical condition, as investigators sift through claims of a multi-crore cyber fraud, unanswered letters to India’s top leadership, and the personal toll of financial ruin.
A Gunshot in Patiala
Late Monday, police teams in the Punjab city of Patiala rushed to the residence of Amar Singh Chahal, a former inspector general of police, after reports of a gunshot rang in from the neighborhood. Officers found Chahal with a chest wound, allegedly self-inflicted using a security guard’s revolver. He was taken to Park (Paras) Hospital, where doctors said his condition remained critical. Varun Sharma, the senior superintendent of police in Patiala, told reporters that officers reached the scene within minutes.
“We intervened in time and took him to the hospital while he was still breathing,” Sharma said, adding that investigators recovered a handwritten note from Chahal’s home.
For the Punjab Police, the incident triggered a two-track response: a medical emergency involving a senior former officer and the opening of an inquiry into the circumstances that led to the shooting.
A Note Addressed Upward
According to police officials, Chahal left behind a 12-page note addressed to Gaurav Yadav, the director general of police of Punjab. In the letter, Chahal described acute financial distress after being allegedly duped in an online investment fraud amounting to ₹8.10 crore.
Officials said the note was not limited to the state police leadership. Chahal had also written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, outlining his claims and seeking intervention.
“All angles are being investigated,” Sharma said. “His note is addressed to several people. Our focus is on saving his life.”
The Alleged Cyber Fraud
Sources familiar with the contents of the note said Chahal claimed he came into contact with a company allegedly involved in the fraud in October. He wrote that he invested ₹1 crore of his own money and borrowed the remaining amount from friends and relatives, transferring funds online through three different banks.
Several other individuals, according to the note, were also said to have invested in the same company. Police have begun verifying these claims, examining transaction trails and identifying the entities involved in what may be a broader cybercrime network.
A Past That Shadows the Present
Chahal’s current crisis is inseparable from his past. He was among the senior officers charged in the 2015 Behbal Kalan and Kotkapura firing incidents, which followed protests over sacrilege cases and left two protesters dead. The cases have remained politically sensitive and legally protracted, shaping public perceptions of those involved.
Now, as investigators piece together the events leading up to Monday’s shooting, they are navigating a complex terrain where personal financial collapse, alleged cybercrime and a controversial professional legacy intersect.
For the police, the inquiry remains open-ended. For Chahal, the immediate battle is medical. And for investigators, the documents he left behind may yet determine whether his claims point to a larger fraud—or to the final chapter of a life under sustained pressure.
