CID launches internal probe after samosas meant for Himachal CM served to security staff

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Himachal Pradesh has initiated an internal inquiry following an incident where refreshments, including samosas, meant for Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu were mistakenly served to his security personnel instead of the VIPs during his visit to the CID headquarters on October 21. The incident has garnered attention due to the mishandling of the refreshments meant for the CM and other dignitaries attending the function.

According to a report filed by the CID, the incident stemmed from a sequence of actions that led to the samosas, originally purchased for the CM, being delivered to security personnel. The report states that an Inspector General (IG)-rank police officer had instructed a sub-inspector (SI) to purchase refreshments from Hotel Radisson Blue in Lakkar Bazaar for the event, which was attended by the CM and other VIPs. The SI, knowing that the refreshments were for the VIPs, specifically requested three sealed boxes containing samosas and other items for the Chief Minister and his entourage.

The SI handed over the three sealed boxes to the CID’s mechanical transport (MT) section for distribution. However, the contents of the boxes were not properly accounted for as they were transferred through different departments and exchanged between several personnel during the process. Ultimately, the boxes, which were intended for the CM, were served to the security staff, while the CM and other VIPs did not receive the refreshments. This confusion was discovered only after the event, when officials noted that the samosas were missing and an investigation was launched to determine what had happened.

The CID’s enquiry also noted that the samosas were not part of the event’s approved menu. Transport department staff reported that they were unaware that the items in the boxes were specifically ordered for the CM. The inquiry also suggested that there was a lack of communication regarding the intended recipients of the refreshments, further compounding the situation. The report does not specify whether any personnel acted intentionally, but rather focuses on the mishandling of the items and the resulting confusion.

The ruling Congress party quickly dismissed claims that the government had ordered the CID investigation. Congress officials stated that the investigation was conducted solely by the CID as an internal matter and accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of politicizing the issue. Chief Minister Sukhu’s chief adviser, Naresh Chouhan, claimed the BJP was exaggerating the matter to create unnecessary controversy. He also stated that the investigation was a routine procedure within the CID, which was being unfairly criticized.

The BJP, however, seized on the incident to criticize the Himachal Pradesh government’s priorities. BJP leaders, including MLA Satpal Singh Satti, questioned why the government was focusing on a trivial issue like missing samosas when more pressing concerns, such as delayed salaries for government employees and the freeze on new state jobs, were being neglected. The BJP suggested that the government's response to the incident was disproportionate, given the ongoing issues facing the state. The CID’s internal probe remains ongoing as officials continue to investigate the exact sequence of events and the personnel responsible for the mix-up.