Mystery shrouds IAS officer's death

Head injury may have killed bureaucrat

A Haryana Indian Administrative Service officer died under mysterious circumstances after allegedly falling from the staircase of his apartment building here on Wednesday, police said.

The 1981 batch IAS officer, Harbaksh Singh, 56, was financial commissioner and additional chief secretary, renewable energy department of Haryana.

His body was found near the staircase of his flat on the first floor of Park View Apartments here in Sector 15 early on Wednesday morning. He apparently fell down the staircase and sustained head injuries.

“His uncle Gurdayal Singh, son Vikram Singh and his friend Shashank Bhatia were in the flat at the time of the incident, but no one saw him falling from the staircase,” said police.
“Gurdayal and Vikram were living in the Gurgaon flat since June 3. Harbaksh usually stayed in Chandigarh or Panchkula, but had returned to Gurgaon on June 10 with his driver, Bachchan Singh. He (Harbaksh) was depressed,” police said.

Harbaksh’s driver saw him lying in a pool of blood. He was rushed to Civil Hospital, where he was declared brought dead.

“There were three injuries on the body. A head injury was the cause of death,” said Deepak Mathur, who conducted the autopsy.

Died in wee hours

“Harbaksh may have died between 1 am and 2.30 am on Wednesday. His stomach was empty,” Mathur added.

“We have handed over the body to the relatives. Investigation into his death is on,” said deputy commissioner of police (east) Surender Pal Singh.

Police said they are looking into the case from all angles. They have not ruled out foul play.