Former Punjab Inspector-General of Police Amar Singh Chahal shot himself with a security guard’s revolver on Monday after allegedly losing money in a cyber fraud, The Indian Express reported.

Chahal was taken to hospital with a chest injury and is in critical condition, The Tribune reported.

Patiala Senior Superintendent of Police Varun Sharma was quoted as saying by The Indian Express that a 12-page note was recovered from Chahal’s home in the city, where the incident took place.

The note is addressed to the Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav mentions financial distress after Chahal was allegedly duped in a Rs 8.1-crore cyber fraud, the senior superintendent of police said.

An investigation into the incident, including the claims made by Chahal, was underway, the police said.

The former Indian Police Service officer is accused of involvement in the 2015 Kotkapura firing case.

In October 2015, the police fired at a group of protesters and lathi-charged them in the Faridkot district’s Kotkapura city, injuring several persons. Later on the same day, two persons were killed in police firing at the district’s Behbal Kalan village.

The protests were against a series of incidents of desecration of the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy text of the Sikhs.

Several persons have been accused of being involved in a conspiracy to use illegal and excessive force against the protesters. They have been charged under provisions pertaining to attempted murder and criminal conspiracy, among others, under the Indian Penal Code. They have also been charged under the Arms Act.