Patiala | Monday, December 22, 2025 — In a shocking incident that has rocked Punjab’s police and political circles, retired Inspector General of Police (IG) Amar Singh Chahal is battling for his life after allegedly shooting himself at his residence in Patiala.
The suicide attempt is reportedly linked to a massive cyber fraud where the decorated former officer was allegedly duped of over ₹8.10 crore by a sophisticated investment scam.
The Incident – The shooting occurred early Monday morning at Chahal’s residence. Preliminary reports from the Patiala Police indicate that:
• The Weapon: Chahal allegedly used a service weapon (a rifle/revolver) belonging to his security guard.
• The Injury: He sustained a serious gunshot wound to the chest and was immediately rushed to Park (Paras) Hospital in Patiala.
• Current Status: Medical bulletins describe his condition as critical but stable following an emergency surgery. He remains under close observation in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
The 12-Page Suicide Note
Police recovered a detailed 12-page suicide note at the scene, addressed to the Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav, with copies marked to the Prime Minister, Union Home Minister, and Finance Minister. In the note, Chahal detailed the mental agony and financial ruin caused by a “sophisticated group of scamsters”:
• The Scam: Chahal claimed he was lured into a WhatsApp and Telegram-based investment group named “F-777 DBS Wealth Equity Research Group” starting in October 2025.
• The Loss: He reportedly invested his own savings of ₹1 crore and borrowed the remaining ₹7.10 crore from friends and relatives, believing he was investing in high-yield stocks and IPOs.
• The Fraud: The scammers used fake dashboards to show massive profits but demanded “taxes” and “service fees” whenever he tried to withdraw funds.
“I have no face to show to my friends and relatives from whom I borrowed money in good faith… I regret not using due caution, but these thugs posed as government-authorized advisors.” — Excerpt from the note.
Legal and Personal Context
Amar Singh Chahal is a well-known figure in Punjab, having served in several high-profile roles. However, his retirement has been shadowed by legal challenges:
• Faridkot Firing Case: Chahal was one of the senior officers named in the SIT chargesheet related to the 2015 Behbal Kalan and Kotkapura firing incidents, which occurred during protests against the sacrilege of Sri Guru Granth Sahib.
• Investigation: Patiala SSP Varun Sharma confirmed that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) is being considered to track the cybercriminals mentioned in the note, while a separate inquiry looks into the circumstances of the suicide attempt.
Impact on the State
The incident has triggered a debate on the rising menace of cyber fraud in India, with experts noting that even highly trained former law enforcement officers are not immune to sophisticated “digital arrest” or “wealth management” scams.