Former CCI Chief Dhanendra Kumar Dies After AC Blast At Delhi Residence
Retired Indian Administrative Service officer and former Chairman of the Competition Commission of India (CCI), Dhanendra Kumar, died following a fire at his residence in the Hauz Khas area of South Delhi late Wednesday night. The tragic incident occurred after an alleged explosion in the indoor unit of an air conditioner installed in the house.
According to Delhi Police, the fire was reported around 11:10 PM on May 27 at the Hauz Khas police station. Upon receiving the alert, police officials and fire department teams quickly arrived at the scene to control the situation. Two fire tenders were deployed, and firefighters successfully prevented the flames from spreading to nearby houses within the residential area.
Dhanendra Kumar and his son were promptly taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. However, Kumar later succumbed to injuries from smoke inhalation while undergoing care at the AIIMS Trauma Centre. His son sustained injuries in the incident but is currently reported to be out of danger and is under medical supervision.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the fire may have been caused by an explosion in the indoor air conditioner unit, potentially due to an electrical short circuit. Authorities have initiated an electrical inspection to determine the exact cause of the fire, and officials stated that there is no suspicion of foul play at this stage.
A domestic helper working at the residence reportedly attempted to rescue the family members moments after the fire broke out. Deputy Commissioner of Police (South), Anant Mittal, confirmed that Kumar’s death was due to smoke inhalation.
Dhanendra Kumar was a 1968-batch IAS officer known for his distinguished administrative career. He served in several important ministries, including Defence, Road Transport and Highways, and Culture. From 2005 to 2009, he represented India at the World Bank as Executive Director for India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Bhutan.
From 2009 to 2011, Kumar served as Chairman of the Competition Commission of India, where he played a key role in strengthening India’s competition laws and policies. Even after retirement, he remained active in public policy and corporate advisory roles.
This incident has once again raised concerns about electrical safety and the regular maintenance of household appliances, particularly during the peak summer season, when air conditioners are heavily used across Delhi.
