Day after CBI gets Negi case, Shimla SP accuses Himachal DGP’s staff of drug link

In a major showdown among top police officials over the handling of Chief Engineer Vimal Negi death case, Shimla SP Sanjeev Gandhi today accused DGP Atul Verma’s staff of having links with a drug peddling syndicate. Verma is slated to retire this month-end. This comes a day after the Himachal Pradesh High Court raised questions over the SIT probe into the case and handed it over to the CBI. SP Gandhi said the SIT would move court against the order, even though no such statement had been made by any other senior functionary.

Sources said a CBI team today visited the SP office for the handover of case records, but it was denied possession.

Addressing mediapersons here, the SP accused the DGP of filing his status report in the Vimal Negi case with some “ulterior motives”. He claimed that he was being targeted as investigations were being carried out into several cases in which members of the DGP’s personal staff allegedly had links with a drug-peddling syndicate.

“Recently, a confidential document of the CID was leaked. The Shimla police registered an FIR and conducted an investigation in this connection. There are serious doubts about the involvement of the DGP’s personal staff as he tried to interfere in the probe on various occasions,” SP Gandhi alleged.

Stressing the SIT had carried out investigation into the Vimal Negi case with honesty and integrity, he alleged that the status report and affidavit filed by the DGP in the court was irresponsible. “I am being targeted as senior police officers posted in the police headquarters hold a grudge against me,” he added.

Besides, the Shimla SP levelled serious allegations against former DGP Sanjay Kundu, Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena, former Shimla DC and sitting BJP MLA from Dharamshala Sudhir Sharma. Gandhi and Sharma have issued notices for filing of criminal defamation against each other.

Meanwhile, sources in the police headquarters refuted the allegations, saying “it is not appropriate to respond to such vague unsubstantiated allegations when the matter is sub judice”.

The DGP’s status report was taken into account while handing over the Vimal Negi case to the CBI,” said sources, adding that a letter had been sent to the Additional Chief Secretary (Home) to initiate departmental action against the SP.

India