Patiala, Punjab: Former Punjab Police Inspector General (IG) Amar Singh Chahal is battling for his life after allegedly shooting himself at his residence in Patiala on Monday. The retired IPS officer reportedly attempted suicide following massive financial losses in an online fraud scheme amounting to ₹8.10 crore.
Self-Inflicted Gunshot and Hospitalization
According to Patiala police, Chahal sustained a chest injury after allegedly using his security guard’s revolver. Emergency teams rushed to his residence, intervening within 10 minutes, and he was admitted to Park (Paras) Hospital, where he is currently in critical condition.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Patiala, Varun Sharma, confirmed:
“We intervened in time and took him to the hospital while he was still breathing. He is critical but stable for now.“
Suicide Note Reveals Financial Distress
Authorities recovered a 12-page note from Chahal’s home, addressed to Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav. In the letter, Chahal detailed being duped in a cyber fraud worth ₹8.10 crore. Of this, ₹1 crore was his own money, while the remaining ₹7.10 crore was borrowed from friends and relatives.
Chahal claimed he had contacted the company allegedly involved in the scam as early as October 2025 and also wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman regarding the matter. Police have launched an investigation to verify the claims made in the note and ascertain the circumstances leading to the incident.
Connection to 2015 Kotkapura and Faridkot Firing Cases
Chahal has previously been embroiled in high-profile controversies. He is one of the accused in the 2015 Behbal Kalan and Kotkapura police firing incidents, where protesters demonstrating against sacrilege of the Guru Granth Sahib were fired upon, resulting in two deaths.
In February 2023, a Punjab Police Special Investigation Team (SIT) filed a chargesheet in a Faridkot court naming Chahal alongside other senior officials and political leaders. His anticipatory bail applications in these cases were previously rejected by local courts.
Professional Career Overview
Amar Singh Chahal, a native of Mansa district, Punjab, retired as an IG after serving in multiple key positions across the state:
- Police Commissioner of Amritsar: Focused on traffic management, drug abuse control, and street crime.
- Deputy Inspector General, Patiala Range: Oversaw policing operations across the region.
- Reputation: Known as a field-oriented officer who served in critical districts of Punjab.
Despite his professional achievements, his career was overshadowed by legal controversies linked to the 2015 firing incidents.
Current Status and Investigation
Police emphasized that their immediate focus is on saving Chahal’s life. SSP Varun Sharma stated that all angles are being investigated, including the financial distress detailed in Chahal’s suicide note. Further updates are expected as the hospital continues treatment and police probe the online fraud claims.
