Five police officers in Himachal Pradesh are facing a CID investigation, which could lead to disciplinary action, following an incident involving samosas intended for Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu’s event. The samosas, part of refreshments ordered for the CM’s program, were mistakenly consumed by officers in a mix-up that has sparked a political controversy.

On Friday, Chief Minister Sukhu clarified that the probe was focused on the “misbehavior” of officials and not the missing samosas, as the media had suggested. He emphasized that the matter was an internal issue within the police department and urged the media not to politicize it.

CID Director General Ranjhan Ojha also addressed the matter, stating that the officers were simply having tea in their office when the missing food was noticed. “When we were asked about the missing items, we said, ‘pata karo kya hua’ (find out what happened),” Ojha said. He further explained that no formal notice had been issued to the officers nor had any explanations been requested. The investigation was a mere clarification, he added, and the CID had no intentions of taking action unless necessary.

What Happened?

According to the CID’s investigation report, the confusion began when an Inspector General (IG) officer instructed a sub-inspector to collect food for the CM from a five-star hotel in Shimla’s Lakkar Bazaar. Three boxes of samosas and cake were then delivered by an assistant sub-inspector and a head constable to an officer of Inspector rank. However, the woman officer, unaware of the items’ intended recipient, ordered the boxes to be placed in a senior officer’s room. From there, they were moved between various rooms.

The officers involved later claimed they had confirmed with the tourism department that the items were not part of the CM’s official menu. The investigation noted that the woman Inspector did not know the food was meant for the CM. Without opening the boxes, she directed them to be sent to the Motor Transport (MT) section, where the food was inadvertently served to the CM’s staff.

The report further revealed that the only officer aware the food was for the CM was a sub-inspector, who did not ensure that the items were delivered to the correct destination. The food was instead served to approximately 10-12 staff members in the IG’s office, with tea.

Political Fallout

The incident has become the subject of sharp political debate. The opposition BJP has ridiculed the state government, calling it a “laughing stock.” BJP leader and former Union Minister Smriti Irani mocked the investigation, pointing out that there had been no similar probes when Congress leaders allegedly misused public funds. She criticized the state government for “misplaced priorities,” focusing on the missing samosas while ignoring the public’s pressing concerns.

Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly, Jai Ram Thakur, also mocked the government’s response. In a video statement, Thakur joked that he and his party workers enjoyed the samosas, and questioned how the incident could be considered anti-government when those who ate the samosas were part of the government. He further criticized the ruling party for making “hasty decisions” and then trying to cover them up when they became a joke.

Despite the political backlash, Chief Minister Sukhu dismissed the controversy as childish, asserting that the matter was being blown out of proportion by political opponents. The state’s police and CID continue to probe the incident, but the controversy over the samosas highlights the growing tensions between the ruling Congress party and the opposition BJP in Himachal Pradesh.