Shimla: A major rift within the Himachal Pradesh Police has come to light following the death of Vimal Negi, a senior official with the Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation. The internal conflict has escalated after Shimla’s Superintendent of Police, Sanjeev Kumar Gandhi, accused Director General of Police (DGP) Atul Verma of misconduct and malpractices in the investigation. Gandhi, in a press conference on Saturday, made serious allegations against Verma, claiming that the SIT investigation into Negi’s death was compromised by ulterior motives.
The controversy erupted after the Himachal Pradesh High Court transferred the investigation of Vimal Negi’s death to the CBI. Gandhi, who had led the Special Investigation Team (SIT) in the case, filed an affidavit against the state police chief, stating that Verma’s affidavit presented in court was not only irresponsible but was aimed at undermining the SIT’s honest efforts. Gandhi further remarked that if his integrity and professional honesty were questioned, he would prefer to resign than tolerate such baseless insults.
In an unprecedented move, Gandhi stated he would again approach the court with facts and documents to expose what he described as Verma’s “ulterior motives” in the investigation. He accused Verma of interfering in the investigation and exerting undue pressure on officials in the police headquarters. Gandhi stressed that he had carried out the investigation with full integrity and would not let the truth be buried under such manipulations.
The controversy also took a political turn when Gandhi accused Verma’s personal staff of leaking confidential documents from the CID department, leading to an FIR being filed. He further alleged that Verma was involved in influencing the investigation into a gas leak incident in Shimla, which was initially flagged as a potential terrorist attack involving RDX. Gandhi insisted that this was a clear case of manipulation aimed at tarnishing the image of the police force.
Adding fuel to the fire, Gandhi also claimed that Verma’s staff was involved in a conspiracy to cover up the real nature of a gas leak blast in Shimla in 2023, which was later confirmed to be caused by an LPG cylinder and not RDX. Gandhi alleged that senior officers, including former DGP Sanjay Kundu, manipulated the situation and misused the National Security Guard (NSG) for personal gains.
Furthermore, Gandhi revealed his concerns over the involvement of drug mafias in Shimla, stating that one of the police staff members associated with DGP Verma’s office had links with a notorious drug syndicate. Gandhi, who has led several operations against drug trafficking, expressed his deep disappointment that a member of the DGP’s staff was allegedly involved in the trade.
Gandhi’s allegations also extended to political figures, as he filed a petition against BJP MLA Sudhir Sharma for live-streaming the High Court proceedings, which Gandhi claimed was a violation of copyright and contempt of court. He accused Sharma of attempting to damage his reputation by maliciously portraying him in a negative light during the ongoing investigations.
Amidst these allegations, Gandhi stood firm, declaring that he had an unblemished record in the police force. Despite the intense pressure and personal attacks, he vowed to continue to fight for the truth and ensure justice for Vimal Negi.
The unfolding drama has put the Himachal Pradesh Police under the spotlight, with calls for a thorough review of the state’s law enforcement procedures and the potential involvement of political and police officials in criminal activities. As the investigation continues, it remains to be seen how the allegations will impact the functioning of the state police and the credibility of its leadership.
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