Patiala: Former IPS officer Amar Singh Chahal allegedly shot himself on Monday using the rifle of his security guard. Police recovered a note at the scene
in which Chahal reportedly claimed that he had been defrauded of Rs 8.10 crore by cybercriminals posing as wealth management advisors. The former Punjab Inspector General of Police was rushed to a hospital with bullet injuries to his chest, Patiala Senior Superintendent of Police Varun Sharma confirmed. Chalal was one of the accused in the 2015 police firing cases related to anti-sacrilege protests in Faridkot. In the 12-page note addressed to Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav, Chahal alleged that fraudsters operated through WhatsApp and Telegram groups under the name 'F-777 DBS Wealth Equity Research Group', falsely claiming links with the DBS Bank and its CEO. "With great sorrow, pain and despair, I have to bring to your kind notice that I have been cheated by these cyber thugs posing as wealth equity advisors to the tune of Rs 8.10 crore," the note stated, adding, "I regret that I did not use due caution while parting with my money." According to the note, the group lured investors by promising unusually high returns through stock trading, IPO allotments, OTC trades and so-called "quantitative funds". They were claiming to be representing DBS Group, which, according to them, was authorised by the Government of India and SEBI to educate and help retail investors earn good money, it stated. The note further claimed that fake dashboards were created to show inflated profits, gradually building confidence among investors and prompting them to deposit large sums. It also stated that Chahal was repeatedly pressured to reinvest profits and later asked to pay hefty "service fees," "taxes," and additional charges to withdraw his money, amounting to several crores. The former police officer stated that despite making all payments through bank transfers, withdrawals were never processed. He alleged that the scam was highly organised, involving multiple bank accounts and individuals, and urged authorities to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) or hand over the case to a specialised central agency to trace the money trail. "Since this is a very sophisticated scamster group, only a dedicated SIT can unearth the network and bring people to book. If your good self may find it proper, it could even be entrusted to CBI or a specialised cell of Punjab police," the note stated. Expressing deep distress over financial ruin and emotional trauma, Chahal wrote that he felt devastated and ashamed, apologising to his family and colleagues. "I am extremely sorry, sir, that apart from destroying my own family, I have brought the Punjab Police into question, whose own officer could not take care of the caution to be exercised," he wrote. "Sir, I would be very grateful if any culprits are caught and recoveries affected, and some could be passed on to my family so that they are able to pay the persons from whom I borrowed money," the note, purportedly written by him, stated. He maintained that, except for the alleged scammers, no one else was responsible for his decision. "Sir, while advising general people to be aware of the scamsters, I have myself fallen victim to their sophisticated method," he wrote. Chahal also stated in the note that he used the rifle of his gunman as he did not have any weapon. Police said they are probing the firing incident and the alleged fraud, examining the note, bank transactions, and digital evidence. Doctors said when Chahal was brought to the hospital with a gunshot wound, his condition was extremely critical. He suffered massive blood loss. After stabilising the patient, a major surgery, which lasted approximately two-and-a-half to three hours, was conducted, said one of the doctors. The bullet struck the chest and got lodged in the lungs, he said, adding the bullet was successfully removed during the operation. The doctor said Chahal will remain under observation at the hospital for the next 12 to 24 hours. It is difficult to say how much time it will take for him to recover, said the doctor. (With inputs from PTI)
