In a development that has shaken the law enforcement and administrative circles of Himachal Pradesh, Shimla Superintendent of Police (SP) Sanjeev Kumar Gandhi has made serious allegations against top officials in the state police and administrative machinery. Gandhi claims he was falsely implicated in the 2023 Shimla eatery blast, which killed two people and injured over ten others.
The Incident: A Tragic Evening in Middle Bazaar
The incident occurred on the evening of July 18, 2023, at a popular eatery in Middle Bazaar, just off the iconic Mall Road in Shimla. As locals and tourists gathered for dinner, a sudden blast ripped through the establishment. Two people lost their lives, and several others were rushed to the hospital with injuries.
Initial reports suggested that a gas leak was the most likely cause of the explosion. The Shimla Police, under SP Gandhi, began investigations in coordination with the state CID and forensic experts. These teams reportedly concluded that the blast resulted from a 10kg gas leak and not from any kind of explosive device.
Claims of a Conspiracy
However, what followed in the days after the blast has now become a matter of controversy.
SP Gandhi has alleged that senior officials in the police headquarters, including those in the office of the Director General of Police (DGP), manipulated central agencies like the National Security Guard (NSG) to falsely portray the incident as a terrorist attack. According to Gandhi, samples from the blast site were not sealed in the presence of local police or neutral witnesses—a serious lapse in investigative protocol.
Five days after the incident, an NSG team inspected the site over a span of three days, allegedly without any coordination with Shimla Police. The NSG later filed a report stating that the blast involved improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and RDX, thus categorizing it as a terrorist act.
Gandhi contends that this claim was entirely baseless and directly contradicted by the findings of both forensic experts and the state CID. These findings pointed conclusively to a gas leak, with no traces of RDX or any explosive material found.
Fallout and Allegations of Targeted Action
According to Gandhi, the NSG’s report became the foundation for a letter from the DGP to the chief secretary, which accused the Shimla Police of negligence and sought disciplinary action against him. Gandhi believes this was a deliberate attempt to scapegoat him and deflect blame from other quarters.
This isn’t the first time SP Gandhi has taken a stand against senior officials. In an earlier controversy, he alleged that former DGPs Sanjay Kundu and Atul Verma, along with the then Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena, were involved in filing a misleading report during a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the death of a Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (HPPCL) employee.
Following his previous allegations, Gandhi, along with Verma and additional chief secretary (home) Onkar Sharma, was sent on leave—a move many see as an attempt to defuse growing tensions within the state’s top bureaucracy.
Questions That Demand Answers
Gandhi’s latest revelations have triggered a storm of questions that the state government and central agencies cannot afford to ignore. If the Shimla blast was indeed due to a gas leak, why did the NSG label it a terrorist attack? Why were standard procedures not followed during the collection and sealing of evidence? And perhaps most importantly, was a senior police officer targeted to protect more influential figures?
These questions go beyond the career of one officer. They strike at the heart of how justice and accountability function in a democracy. When police and investigative bodies contradict each other so drastically, it creates confusion and undermines public trust.
The Broader Implications
The fallout from this controversy could be significant. If SP Gandhi’s allegations hold weight, they suggest a dangerous precedent where evidence can be manipulated, and central agencies used as tools for internal vendettas. This is not just a matter of individual reputation—it’s about institutional integrity.
Moreover, the discrepancy between the CID and forensic findings versus the NSG report needs urgent reconciliation. An independent probe may be necessary to establish the truth and ensure that public trust in law enforcement is not eroded further.
Final Thoughts
As this case unfolds, one thing is clear: transparency and accountability are non-negotiable in a democratic setup. SP Sanjeev Kumar Gandhi’s allegations are serious and deserve a thorough, impartial investigation. Whether he is a whistleblower exposing a cover-up or an officer embroiled in internal rivalries, only a fair and independent inquiry can reveal the full truth.
The people of Shimla—and indeed, the citizens of India—deserve no less.
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