SHIMLA, June 2 — Shimla Superintendent of Police Sanjeev Kumar Gandhi on Monday accused senior police headquarters officials of manipulating central agencies to falsely implicate him in the 2023 eatery blast case by claiming that RDX was used in the explosion.
This is the second major allegation Gandhi has levelled against top bureaucrats and police officers. On May 24, he had publicly accused former DGPs Sanjay Kundu and Atul Verma, as well as Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena, of interfering in sensitive investigations, including the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the death of HPPCL employee Vimal Negi. Following the press conference, all three—Gandhi, Verma and Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Onkar Sharma—were sent on leave.
On Monday, SP Gandhi asserted that forensic experts and the state CID have confirmed the Shimla eatery blast was caused by a gas leak and not an improvised explosive device (IED) or RDX. “The explosion occurred due to the leakage of around 10 kg of gas,” he said, citing forensic findings.
He also criticised the delayed involvement of central agencies in the probe. “Five days after the incident, the National Security Guard (NSG) was called in. They conducted a three-day inspection without coordinating with Shimla Police,” Gandhi said.
The SP further alleged procedural lapses in evidence handling. “Samples were not sealed in front of witnesses. Yet, the NSG claimed it was a terrorist act involving RDX,” he stated. He claimed this was followed by a letter from the then DGP to the chief secretary, accusing the Shimla Police of negligence and pushing for disciplinary action against him.
Gandhi maintained that the CID’s investigation has now confirmed the incident was non-terror-related and caused solely by a gas leak. “There was no RDX, no IED, and no terrorist involvement,” he said, accusing senior officials of deliberately maligning him.
The developments have triggered fresh political ripples in Himachal Pradesh, with opposition leaders demanding transparency and a high-level probe into the alleged misuse of central agencies and internal sabotage within the police department.
