An electrical inspection team on Friday began its investigation to ascertain the cause of the explosion in the air conditioner that led to the fire and death of retired bureaucrat Dhanendra Kumar at his home in Hauz Khas area, people familiar with the matter said.
Investigators will also ask officials of the air conditioner manufacturer to join the investigation, a senior police officer said.
Kumar, who was the first chairman of the Competition Commission of India (CCI) between 2009 and 2011, died at the AIIMS Trauma Center on Thursday morning, hours after he was rushed to the hospital around midnight.
According to preliminary investigations, Kumar was in the bathroom when the fire broke out and spread quickly. By the time his family reached him, Kumar had collapsed.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Anant Mittal said that a first information report has been lodged.
“We have registered a case under Section 106 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Act (causing death by negligence) and 287 (negligent conduct in relation to fire or flammable substances) at Hauz Khas police station in the matter. No one has been named in the FIR. Our investigation will focus on the exact cause of the air conditioner explosion and fire,” DCP Mittal added.
The DCP said that officials of the city government’s Electricity Inspectorate visited the house on Friday to conduct a comprehensive inspection of the air conditioner and confirm the defect in the device that led to the explosion that led to the fire.
Another officer said that the police team will also ask the officials concerned with the air conditioning company to join the investigation. “They will be asked to conduct a comprehensive inspection of the air conditioner to determine the exact fault that led to the explosion,” he said, adding that the family will also be asked about maintenance of the device.
“We will also question the air conditioning mechanic or engineer who last serviced the machine,” a police officer linked to the investigation.
Police said the incident occurred around 11 pm on Wednesday at the family home in Hauz Khas area. At around 11.18 pm, Hauz Khas Police Station received a report of a house fire, following which police personnel and two fire engines arrived at the scene. She added that the fire was brought under control with the help of residents and police personnel.
Kumar’s daughter, Ruchira Kumar, who works with the World Bank in the US, is expected to arrive in Delhi on Friday.
Kumar, a retired Haryana cadre Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the 1968 batch, served as Principal Secretary to Haryana Chief Minister Bhajan Lal between 1991 and 1996. He came to the central government as a delegate in 1998 and headed the departments of culture, land transport, highways and defense production. He subsequently served as Executive Director at the World Bank from 2005 to 2009, representing India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Bhutan, and upon his return, was appointed as the first President of the CCI in its formative years.
