An 80-year-old retired IAS officer died while his son sustained injuries after a fire broke out at a house in south Delhi’s Hauz Khas area on Wednesday night.
The deceased was identified as Dhanender Kumar, 1968 batch, a retired Indian Administrative Service officer. He was the first chairperson of the Competition Commission of India. He succumbed during treatment at the AIIMS Trauma Centre for asphyxiation, Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Anant Mittal said on Thursday.
While Kumar could not survive, his son is undergoing treatment and is stated to be out of danger, an officer said.
Preliminary enquiry suggested that the fire may have been triggered by a blast in the indoor unit of an air-conditioner installed in the house, police said. At the time of the incident, five people, including family members and domestic help, were present inside the house, they said.
A crime team inspected the spot and an electrical inspection is underway to ascertain the exact cause of the fire. Statements of eyewitnesses have been recorded and no foul play is suspected at this stage, police added. Further investigation is in progress.
He has served on key positions with World Bank, Government of India and Government of Haryana. His last assignment was Chairperson of Committee on National Competition Policy formed by Ministry of Corporate Affairs. Prior to that, he was founding chairperson of CCI after he came back from Washington DC after serving as Executive Director at World Bank. He joined IAS in 1968, has served the Government at Centre and Haryana State in various senior positions.