3 days ago
Not the first rodeo for Shimla SP Sanjeev Gandhi, who took on Himachal DGP, top IAS officers
A native of Arki Bughar village in Solan district, Gandhi has been in the force for 25 years. As SP, Kangra, in 2017 under the Congress-led Virbhadra Singh government, he spearheaded operations against drug and mining mafias. These actions resulted in three transfers within 15 days, though public and political support called for his retention.
Verma retired Saturday and necessitating the transfer of his charge to 1994-batch IPS officer Ashok Tiwari, posted as DGP (Vigilance and ACB). Gandhi, meanwhile is on medical leave and Solan SP Gaurav Singh has been given additional charge for Shimla.
Shimla: Sanjeev Kumar Gandhi, a 2012-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer posted as Superintendent of Police (SP) of Shimla, has landed at the center of a controversy involving senior police officers and political figures. The Himachal Pradesh government placed Gandhi, former director general of police (DGP) Atul Verma, and Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Onkar Sharma on leave on 29 May, citing 'indiscipline'.
He was subsequently transferred to Una, where he continued targeting similar syndicates.
In 2022, Gandhi was awarded the DGP Disc and Best Administrator Award for his work against the drug mafia in Himachal Pradesh.
The current controversy stems from Gandhi's role leading a Special Investigation Team (SIT) investigating the death of Vimal Negi, a chief engineer with the Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited, whose body was found in Gobind Sagar lake on 18 March.
On 23 May, Himachal Pradesh High Court transferred the case to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) citing delays on the part of the state police.
At a press conference the next day, on 24 May, Gandhi publicly named Verma, former DGP Sanjay Kundu, and Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena, accusing them of obstructing justice.
Gandhi alleged that Verma submitted a misleading affidavit questioning the SIT's evidence handling, particularly regarding a formatted pen drive, claiming it was intended to discredit his investigation. The affidavit referenced a 20 March conversation among five police officers discussing the pen drive's potential replacement.
He also criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for allegedly using corrupt means to destabilize the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu government.
Verma recommended Gandhi's suspension for these allegations, and Gandhi's attempt to challenge the high court's CBI transfer ruling through a Letter Patent Appeal (LPA), an appeal made against the decision of a single judge to another bench in the same court.
But CM Sukhu did not act on Verma's recommendation. Subsequently, the LPA was withdrawn.
ThePrint reached Gandhi, Verma and Kundu for comment but had not received a response by the time of publication. This report will be updated if and when a response is received.
Gandhi's run-ins with Verma go back to 2021-22, when Gandhi, part of a police recruitment committee, raised concerns about irregularities, prompting a CBI investigation. He accused Verma, then DG-CID, of pressuring subordinates to produce a misleading report in another case and claimed Verma's staff leaked a confidential CID report in the 'samosa scandal'.
As for Kundu, Gandhi alleged in the press conference on 24 May that he misrepresented a 18 July, 2023, gas leak explosion in Shimla's Middle Bazaar as a terror attack, 'misusing' the National Security Guard (NSG) to fabricate evidence.
In another case, Gandhi's status report on a complaint by Dharamshala businessman Nishant Sharma detailed nine phone calls between Kundu and K.D. Shreedhar, an advocate and Sharma's business partner, in 2023, including a 256-second call on 25 October, 2023, suggesting potential 'criminal links', leading to a court-ordered impartial investigation.
Gandhi's investigations have also led to tensions with BJP MLA Sudhir Sharma, whom he accused of orchestrating 'horse-trading' during the February 2024 Rajya Sabha elections, when six Congress MLAs cross-voted in favour of BJP candidate Harsh Mahajan.
Gandhi filed a contempt of court petition against Sharma for sharing a video of Negi case proceedings. Sharma responded with a criminal defamation notice and wrote to the Speaker of the Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha to move a privilege motion against Gandhi, claiming the officer's statements harmed his reputation.
Gandhi has accused Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena of pressuring him to halt police inquiries in cases related to the Ram Krishna Ashram land dispute, alleging he was instructed not to question the ashram's swami.
He claims a 'long-term conspiracy' by senior officials to undermine his investigations, particularly in the Negi case, which BJP alleges involves a Congress cover-up.
Gandhi has reported these issues to the state government and Advocate General, stating that no action has been taken. He has expressed readiness to resign rather than compromise on his integrity, emphasising his 25 years of service.
Public opinion on Gandhi is divided. Some view him as an officer committed to addressing corruption, while others, including Sharma, describe him as defiant, accusing him of politicizing investigations and challenging senior officials.
'The ongoing disputes reflect the complex interplay of policing, bureaucratic dynamics, and political tensions in Himachal Pradesh. Gandhi is outspoken but when you are in force, there is a procedure. He has made a mistake by holding a press conference against superiors,' a retired IPS officer told ThePrint on condition of anonymity.
A senior police officer who did not wish to be named said Gandhi had Sukhu's backing, so far. 'He worked with a free hand. Proceeding on leave is not a big deal. But since he has levelled open accusations against superiors, that amounts to indiscipline,' he told ThePrint.
'The SIT led by Gandhi has not questioned those accused by the deceased's wife. It raises fingers on his probe and even the court has pointed it out,' another officer pointed out.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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