Shimla SP Returns to Duty After Medical Leave Amid High-Profile Probe
Nearly a month after being asked to go on leave during a storm of controversy within the Himachal Pradesh police, Shimla Superintendent of Police (SP) Sanjeev Gandhi resumed duty on Tuesday. Gandhi, a 1992-batch IPS officer, had been on medical leave since May 27, following tensions sparked by the investigation into the mysterious death of HPPCL Chief Engineer Vimal Negi.
Gandhi wasn’t alone—former state DGP Atul Verma and Additional Chief Secretary Onkar Chand Sharma were also directed to go on leave the same day, as internal conflicts escalated within the police force. The directive came just four days after the Himachal Pradesh High Court transferred the sensitive case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), citing concerns over the state police’s handling of the matter.
During Gandhi’s absence, Solan SP Gaurav Singh held additional charge of Shimla district. His return marks a significant development in a case that has not only shaken the state’s law enforcement but also raised questions about transparency and accountability in the investigation process.
