Shimla Superintendent of Police (SP) Sanjeev Kumar Gandhi on Monday levelled serious allegations against senior police officials, claiming they manipulated central agencies to falsely implicate him in the 2023 Shimla eatery blast case by asserting that traces of RDX were found at the site.
Gandhi alleged that officials at the police headquarters, including those from the office of the Director General of Police (DGP), conspired to portray a routine gas leak explosion as a terrorist act. “This was a simple gas leak incident, but it was deliberately projected as a terror attack,” Gandhi said.
The July 18, 2023 blast at a popular eatery in Middle Bazaar, near Mall Road in central Shimla, claimed two lives and left over 10 people injured. Gandhi claimed forensic investigations by the state authorities and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) have now confirmed the explosion was caused by a 10-kg gas leak — not RDX or any explosive device.
The SP further alleged that samples from the site were collected without proper procedure and not sealed in the presence of witnesses. “Five days later, the NSG (National Security Guard) was brought in without coordinating with the Shimla Police, and their report termed the incident a terrorist act involving RDX and an IED,” he said.
He also accused the then DGP of writing to the chief secretary alleging negligence by the Shimla Police and pushing for disciplinary action based on the NSG report.
This is the second time SP Gandhi has spoken out against senior officials. In a press conference on May 24, he accused former DGPs Sanjay Kundu and Atul Verma, along with Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena, of suppressing facts in a separate case involving the death of a Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Ltd (HPPCL) employee, Vimal Negi. DGP Verma had responded by recommending Gandhi’s suspension. Subsequently, Gandhi, Verma, and Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Onkar Sharma were all placed on leave.
Gandhi now maintains that the CID’s latest findings in the eatery case prove there was no use of RDX or IEDs, and the narrative of a terror act was falsely constructed.
Follow us
