Cyber Fraud Pushes Former Punjab Police IG to the Brink: ₹8.10 Crore Scam Raises Alarming Questions on Public Safety
Patiala | Agency: In a disturbing reminder of the devastating reach of cybercrime, former Punjab Police Inspector General Amar Singh Chahal is battling for life after allegedly shooting himself at his Patiala residence on Monday.
The incident reportedly followed the realisation that he had lost ₹8.10 crore in an online fraud.
According to the Punjab Police, Chahal sustained a gunshot wound to the chest after allegedly using a revolver belonging to his security guard.
Police teams rushed to the spot immediately after receiving information and shifted him to Paras Hospital, where his condition remains critical.
Senior Superintendent of Police Varun Sharma confirmed that police reached Chahal’s residence within minutes.
We intervened in time and took him to the hospital while he was still breathing. Our response time was under 10 minutes. He is critical but alive,” Sharma said.
12-Page Note Details Financial Ruin
Police recovered a 12-page note from Chahal’s residence, addressed to Punjab Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav, in which the retired officer detailed his financial distress after allegedly being duped in a massive cyber scam.
According to sources, Chahal wrote that he initially invested ₹1 crore of his own money and borrowed the remaining amount from friends and relatives.
He allegedly transferred funds online through three different banks to a company he came into contact with in October. Several other investors are also believed to have put money into the same firm.
The note reportedly mentions that Chahal had also approached Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, and Nirmala Sitharaman, seeking intervention after realising he had been defrauded.
Investigation Underway, Life-Saving Priority
Police said a detailed investigation has been launched into the circumstances surrounding the alleged suicide attempt, including verification of the cyber fraud claims.
“All angles are being examined. The note has been addressed to several authorities. At present, our foremost priority is saving his life,” SSP Sharma said.
Background: A Controversial Past
Chahal, who retired as an Inspector General, is also an accused in the 2015 Behbal Kalan and Kotkapura firing cases, linked to protests over sacrilege incidents in Punjab, in which two protesters were killed.
A Larger, Disturbing Question
The incident has sparked a wider and unsettling debate: if a former senior police officer—trained in law enforcement and risk assessment—can fall victim to cyber fraud of this magnitude, what protection does the common citizen have?
Millions of ordinary Indians place their lifetime savings in banks and digital platforms, trusting systems meant to safeguard them.
Yet, cyber fraudsters continue to exploit loopholes with alarming ease, often leaving victims financially and emotionally shattered.
As cybercrime grows more sophisticated, the Chahal case underlines an urgent need for:
- Stronger cybercrime prevention mechanisms
- Faster financial fraud detection and reversal systems
- Greater public awareness and institutional accountability
Until then, the line between security and vulnerability remains dangerously thin—for officers and civilians alike.
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