Himachal ACS Home, DGP and Shimla SP sent on leave

In significant turn of events in the Vimal Negi death case, the Himachal Pradesh government has sent three senior officials, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Omkar Chand Sharma, Director General of Police (DGP) Atul Verma, and Superintendent of Police (Shimla) Sanjeev Kumar Gandhi on leave. The move, confirmed by Secretary to the Chief Minister Rakesh Kanwar, marks a sweeping disciplinary response and has triggered a bureaucratic reshuffle in the state. "This is to confirm that ACS Home, DGP and SP Shimla have been directed to proceed on leave," Rakesh Kanwar said on Tuesday evening, following a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu. The meeting, which lasted over two-and-a-half hours, was attended by Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena, Principal Secretary (Law) Sharad Kumar Lagwal, Advocate General Anup Kumar Rattan, Secretary (Personnel) M Sudha Devi apart from Rakesh Kanwar.

According to officials, the action was prompted by mounting criticism over the handling of the investigation into the suspicious death of engineer Vimal Negi, whose body was found under mysterious circumstances earlier in March. The action against officials have been taken following apparent indiscipline, allegations and counter allegations during the inquiry and investigations.Allegations of administrative negligence, procedural lapses, and internal conflict within the police hierarchy had drawn sharp public and legal scrutiny.