Ex-IPS officer critical after self-inflicted gunshot in Rs 8 crore scam

PATIALA — A former Punjab police IG, Amar Singh Chahal, 66, is battling for life after allegedly shooting himself with a licensed revolver at his Patiala residence on Monday. A friend who received a message from him alerted police, and he was rushed to hospital where doctors say his condition is critical. This marks the second such incident involving an IPS officer in the region, following a similar tragedy in Chandigarh last October.

Investigators say a 12-page handwritten note found at Chahal’s home describes how he was allegedly duped in a highly sophisticated online investment fraud. The scheme operated through WhatsApp and Telegram under the banner of “F-777 DBS Wealth Equity Research Group,” falsely claiming regulatory approvals and links with well-known financial institutions. The note also pleas for protection for his family and asks creditors not to pressure them as investigations proceed.

Patiala Police Superintendent Varun Sharma said Chahal, a 1990-batch officer, did not file a formal complaint about the fraud prior to the incident. The police are tracing the alleged transactions cited in the note and are examining digital evidence tied to the scheme’s communications and flow of funds. The case underscores the growing reach of online investment scams and the vulnerabilities even high‑profile individuals can face when faced with pressure and fraud.

Authorities have stressed that the investigation will examine all angles, including the possibility of professional or personal pressures on the former officer. While investigators work to recover any misappropriated funds and identify those behind the F-777 DBS operation, the incident has renewed calls for tighter safeguards against sophisticated online fraud networks and heightened mental health support for public figures under strain.

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