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Indian Express
17 hours ago
- General
- Indian Express
HPPCL chief engineer death case: Shimla SP moves HC against CBI probe order, says ‘my professional integrity has been tarnished'
Feeling 'aggrieved and dissatisfied' as his professional integrity was 'tarnished' by the May 23 order of the single bench of the Himachal Pradesh High Court, transferring the probe into HPPCL chief engineer Vimal Negi's death case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Shimla Superintendent of Police (SP) Sanjeev Gandhi has moved a Letter Patent Appeal (LPA) against the order and sought an HC-monitored probe by the state police's Special Investigation Team (SIT). The LPA will come up for a hearing on June 5. Gandhi stated, 'The LPA appeal is being filed in personal capacity being aggrieved on account of the opinion, findings derived on the basis of affidavits of the respondents, specifically respondent number 3 (DGP) in the petition whereby the impugned judgement was passed by the single judge bench. Applicant feeling aggrieved and dissatisfied with the judgement dated May 23 begs to prefer the present LPA on the following amongst other grounds, the professional integrity has been tarnished, thereby findings are such SIT-2 held erroneous for ill-founded reasons facts qua such were misrepresented in such manner caused grave injustice, needs to be redressed urgently, in the impugned judgment arbitrarily assumed the suspicion about the professional integrity thereon adverse findings affected the reputation, so much so under particular design being targeted personally, there are well-founded reasons, if not redressed every likelihood of being falsely implication, penalization the remarks in the impugned judgement are unfair caused immense damage to the reputation, professional integrity as well…' Gandhi, thus, prayed, '…the LPA kindly be allowed and the impugned judgment May 23 kindly to be ordered to modified to the extent that instead of handing over the probe to CBI the same may very be kindly be ordered to be handed over to any Special Investigation Team being constituted by the honourable Himachal Pradesh high court rather handing over the CBI or any central agency which is under the control of Union of India, in order to avoid any conflict of interest…' Gandhi further stated, 'The affidavit filed by the then director general of police (DGP) Atul Verma was 'ulteriorly motivated'; therefore, the scathing observation qua the investigation based upon the said affidavit may also be very kindly set aside.' The LPA further states, 'It is pertinent to mention the incident of gas blast in the middle Bazaar Himachal Rasaoi Restaurant. This was an incident qua LPG gas blast, but in a very shocking manner, the then DGP Himachal Pradesh and officers who remained on the central deputation called the teams of National Security Guard (NSG). The NSG affirmed the presence of RDX in the above-mentioned blast. So much so, the then DGP Himachal issued a letter dated August 10, 2023, mentioning the action: SP Shimla and Shimla police on the border for criminal conspiracy and to destroy the evidence. This was affirmative action on the part of the then DGP and other officers, who are still serving in the police headquarters, to implicate the officers of Shimla police, including the applicant.' The LPA further states, 'The above-mentioned facts ipso facto qua the ill-will and malignant proclivities towards the applicant (Sanjeev Gandhi) to which extent harboured by the superior officers, such engagement of the central forces.' Gandhi, a 1992-batch IPS officer, filed the LPA in his personal capacity on Monday, and it was accepted for listing on Tuesday. Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (HPPCL) chief engineer Vimal Negi had gone missing on March 10, and his body was found on March 18 under mysterious circumstances in Bilaspur district. The chief engineer's wife Kiran Negi alleged that his seniors harassed him and demanded a CBI probe into his death. Family members protested by placing the engineer's body outside the HPPCL office in Shimla on March 19. On May 23, the high court transferred the Vimal Negi death case to the CBI after the former DGP submitted a status report in the court, questioning the impartiality of the probe by the SIT headed by Gandhi. On May 29, the state government asked DGP Atul Verma, Shimla SP Gandhi and Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Onkar Sharma to proceed on leave. Atul Verma retired on May 31, while Gandhi is on medical leave. Gandhi further stated in his LPA that during the investigation, 'a black diary of Vimal Negi was found, mentioning the name of ACS Onkar Sharma'. Gandhi named the ACS, the HPPCL, the DGP, the CBI, the Union of India and Kiran Negi as respondents. The CBI has undertaken an investigation into the Negi death case after registering a fresh FIR at their Delhi headquarters. A four-member CBI team has visited Shimla and has been recording the statements of family members of Vimal Negi and others.
The Print
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Print
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) Also Read: Himachal chief secy in soup after Rs 1.2 lakh bill for Holi party sent to govt for clearance
