First CCI President Dhanendra Kumar dies in south Delhi house fire; Suspected AC explosion

The first Chairman of the Competition Commission of India (CCI), Dhanendra Kumar. File | Photo credit: Akhilesh Kumar

Former bureaucrat and the first chairman of the Competition Commission of India (CCI), Dhanendra Kumar, died after a fire suspected to be an explosion in an air-conditioning unit tore through his residence in Delhi’s Hauz Khas, police said on Thursday (May 28, 2026). His son was injured in the incident and is undergoing treatment.

A 1968-batch Haryana cadre IAS officer, Mr Kumar (80) also represented India at the World Bank as Executive Director. According to Delhi Fire Services officials, a call regarding a house fire in Hauz Khas Enclave was received at 11:24 pm on Wednesday (May 27, 2026) following which two fire tenders, including a water tender, were rushed to the spot.

The fire, which was brought under control around 12:20 p.m., engulfed household items on the ground floor and wooden windows on the first floor of the one-story and two-story building, officials said. By the time the firemen reached the spot, the two injured persons had already been taken to the AIIMS Trauma Center by the Police Control Command (PCR) personnel and members of the public.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Anant Mittal said Mr Kumar succumbed to smoke inhalation while being treated. Police said Mr Kumar’s son sustained injuries in the fire and remains under treatment. His condition is said to be out of danger.

A preliminary investigation indicated that the fire may have been caused by an explosion in an indoor air conditioning unit installed inside the house, officials said. Five people, including family members and domestic staff, were inside the residence at the time of the incident.

The scene was examined by the criminal investigation team, an electrical inspection is underway to determine the exact cause of the fire. Statements of eyewitnesses have been recorded and foul play is not suspected yet, police said.

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Mr. Kumar has held several key administrative positions during his career including Chairman and Managing Director of Haryana State Industrial Development Corporation (HSIDC) and Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister of Haryana. In addition to his administrative career, Mr. Kumar was known as an author and public policy scholar. Further investigation is underway in this matter.

Published – 29 May 2026 12:05 PM IST