Himachal Pradesh DGP seeks suspension of Shimla SP over public allegations against him.

Taking strong exception to the explosive allegations levelled by Shimla Superintendent of Police, Sanjeev Kumar Gandhi, the Director General of Police Atul Verma has formally recommended his immediate suspension to the Himachal Pradesh government, terming the officer’s conduct as “misconduct and insubordination”.

In a letter addressed to the Additional Chief Secretary (Home), DGP Verma accused SP Gandhi of making “unsubstantiated and inappropriate allegations against senior government functionaries and constitutional authorities,” including himself, a former DGP, and the state’s Chief Secretary.

The letter was also shared with the Chief Secretary and the Chief Minister’s office, along with video footage of the SP’s controversial media interaction on Saturday.

The recommendation comes a day after SP Gandhi publicly accused the DGP’s office of obstructing the probe in the Vimal Negi mysterious death case and alleged links between a member of the DGP’s personal staff and the Sanjay Bhuria drug peddling gang. He also claimed that confidential documents had been leaked from the CID office and also questioned the intent behind the DGP’s status report submitted in court.

The DGP’s recommendation stated that Police Super Sanjeev Gandhi had allegedly violated Rule 3(1) and Rule 7 of the All India Services Conduct Rules, 1968, which mandate absolute integrity and prohibit conduct unbecoming of a public servant. It also cited Section 87 of the Himachal Pradesh Police Act, 2007, relating to misconduct.

The DGP have urged that SP Gandhi be placed under suspension with immediate effect and directed to report to the police headquarters, pending a departmental inquiry and the outcome of the CBI probe now underway in the Vimal Negi case. Negi, the Chief Engineer with the Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (HPPCL), had gone missing on March 10 and was found dead in Bilaspur district on March 18.

Team Maverick