Shimla, Nov 08: Amid controversy surrounding a CID investigation into samosas and cake meant for Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu but mistakenly served to his staff, the CM has issued a clarification. He denied any claims of an "anti-government" action and emphasized that the probe was related to an issue of misbehavior.
"There is no such issue," Sukhu said to ANI on Friday.
"The CID got involved due to concerns over misbehavior, but you (the media) are focusing on samosas." He dismissed reports suggesting that the food mix-up was politically motivated or part of any larger conspiracy.
In support of the CM’s statement, Sanjeev Ranjan Ojha, Deputy General of the CID, clarified that the investigation was an internal matter within the CID and should not be politicized. "The CM does not eat samosas," Ojha stated. "We have not issued any notices to anyone. We simply asked for an inquiry to determine what happened and how this information was leaked to the public."
The incident in question occurred on October 21 during a program at the CID headquarters. A senior CID officer had described the mix-up as an "anti-government" act, arguing that serving food intended for the Chief Minister to his staff was a disrespectful oversight. The inquiry has raised concerns about possible misconduct by those involved, with the investigation aiming to identify the individuals responsible.
The food mishap took place during an event where CM Sukhu had visited the CID headquarters to inaugurate the Cyber Wing's new Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System (CFCFRMS). Instead of being served to the CM, the samosas and cake were mistakenly handed to his staff, prompting an internal investigation led by a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP).
According to the investigation report, an Inspector General (IG) officer had ordered food from a five-star hotel in Shimla’s Lakkar Bazaar for the CM's program. An Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) and a head constable driver were tasked with picking up the order, which consisted of three boxes of samosas and cake. These items were then handed over to a woman officer of Inspector rank, who, unaware of the intended recipient, instructed that the food be placed in a senior officer's room. The boxes were subsequently moved around the building before being served to the wrong people.
Himachal Pradesh’s Director General of Police (DGP), Atul Verma, reiterated that the investigation was being handled by the CID itself and not the police headquarters. He stressed that the government was not involved in the probe, and emphasized that the focus was on determining how the food was misdirected and how the information about the incident was leaked to the press.
The inquiry continues as the CID works to clarify the circumstances surrounding the mishap and identify those accountable for the mix-up.
(With agency input)
