 There he came into conflict with Captain James Abbott the British Deputy Commissioner of the Hazara District.Abbott alleged that Chatar Singh was conspiring to subvert British authority in the Punjab.The British Resident at Lahore, Sir Frederick Currie commissioned an investigation by Captain John Nicholson who exonerated Chatar Siṅgh, and also justified the defensive measures he had taken to save the besieged capital of Hazārā from Abbott's Muhammadan mercenaries.