On Friday, Shimla Police questioned several BJP leaders and former MLAs as part of an investigation into an alleged horse trading scandal related to the Rajya Sabha elections. Among those summoned were former MLAs Davinder Bhutto, KL Thakur, and Rajinder Rana, who appeared at the Boileauganj Police Station for questioning.
Rakesh Sharma, the father of former Congress legislator Ashish Sharma, was also called in for questioning. The case has drawn significant attention, with political figures from various parties weighing in on the allegations.
BJP leader Rajinder Rana, one of those questioned, strongly refuted the allegations. He described them as unfounded, emphasising that no formal complaint had ever been filed against him previously.
Rana, who is 58 years old, noted that this was his first encounter with the police in such a context. He stressed that mere allegations do not equate to proof of wrongdoing. Rana assured that he and his associates are cooperating fully with the investigation.
Rana also used the opportunity to criticise the Himachal Pradesh state government, particularly targeting the Chief Minister. He questioned why the Chief Minister prefers staying in five-star hotels in Chandigarh instead of using the state’s own facilities, such as Himachal Bhavan, where he has a suite.
Rana demanded transparency regarding the expenses covered for the Chief Minister’s stays and accused the government of avoiding direct engagement with the people of Himachal Pradesh. He claimed that the state, which is financially distressed, deserves more openness from its leaders.
Furthering his criticism, Rana accused the Chief Minister of deceit, claiming that promises related to employment and financial aid for women had not been fulfilled.
He highlighted the state’s mounting debt, noting that Himachal Pradesh currently owes Rs. 65,000 crore and that the government had taken a loan of Rs. 35,000 crore in just a year and a half.
The investigation into the alleged horse trading scandal has been ongoing since March. An FIR was registered against Ashish Sharma and his father, Rakesh Sharma, based on a complaint by Congress legislators Bhuvnashwar Gaur and CPS Sanjay Awasthi.
The FIR, filed on March 10th at the Boileauganj police station, includes charges under sections 120B, 171(e), and (c) of the Indian Penal Code and sections 7 and 8 of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The complaint alleges undue pressure and unethical practices during the Rajya Sabha elections, horse trading during the budget session, and misuse of state resources for illegal activities.
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