The Himachal Pradesh Criminal Investigation Department (CID) found itself launching an investigation into something unusual: a case of missing samosas.

The snack which was meant for Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu during his visit to the CID office, was instead served to his security personnel.

Although it may have seemed like a simple blunder, the incident escalated into a significant controversy, eventually leading to a CID investigation.

According to PTIone official called the mistake an “anti-government” act, alleging it was orchestrated with a specific agenda in mind.

What exactly happened? And how did this samosa incident snowball into a debate? Here’s a closer look.

A recipe for controversy: how did it all start?

The hubbub began on October 21, when three boxes of refreshments were brought from the Radisson Blue Hotel to Lakkar Bazaar to be served to the chief minister who was visiting the CID headquarters to inaugurate the cyber wing station.

According to an investigation report by MP SP Vikram Chauhan, a senior IG rank officer had instructed a sub-inspector (SI) to arrange snacks from the hotel for the CM’s visit.

The SI, in turn, assigned the task to an Assistant SI (ASI) and a head constable, who collected the three sealed boxes of refreshments from the hotel and informed the SI on their return.

In their statements, the police claimed to have asked the staff of the tourism department, who were responsible for serving the snacks, whether the contents of the boxes were intended for the chief minister. They were informed that the items were not on the official CM menu.

Only the SI, who had ordered the ASI and the police chief to collect the snacks, would have known that the refreshments were specifically meant for Sukhu.

A female inspector, who was given the food cartons, did not consult a senior officer and instead sent the cartons to the mechanical transport (MT) section, where refreshments for staff are usually handled. As a result, the snacks ended up in the hands of the CM’s security personnel rather than the CM himself.

Statements by the officers in charge indicated that the snacks were served along with tea to around 10 to 12 people in the IG’s room, as per his instructions.

Ironically, sources close to the chief minister later informed the media that Sukhu did not eat samosas or fried foods due to recent illness. Money control.

An “anti-government” act

Terming the consumption of the three boxes of refreshments, including samosas and a cake, as an “anti-government” act, a senior official of the CID department wrote in his note that the accident was potentially intentional.

He said the five police officers involved in the blunder acted “according to their own agenda” and deprived the VIPs of refreshments.

Further, the official issued show-cause notices against the police officers named in the probe report and accused them of acting in an ‘anti-CID’ manner.

Political shots

Criticizing the Sukhu-led Congress government over the incident, the opposition BJP pointed out that ordering a CID probe only reveals that the Congress is more concerned about the ‘chief minister’s samosa’ than through the development of the State.

“The government is not concerned about the development of the state, and its only concern seems to be the chief minister’s samosa,” BJP chief spokesperson Randhir Sharma said in a statement on Thursday.

“This incident has become a topic of discussion in the political circles of Himachal Pradesh. In fact, the government machinery is embarrassed due to such coordination issues in a program linked to a VVIP like the chief minister,” Sharma added.

In response, Congress denied the allegations, clarifying that the investigating agency was handling the matter independently.

“The government has not ordered such an investigation and it has nothing to do with this matter. The CID is investigating the subject at its level. After all, who was served the refreshments served to the Chief Minister? said Naresh Chauhan, Sukhu’s chief media advisor.

Chauhan also hit back at the BJP, suggesting that it is exaggerating the issue. “Because the BJP has no problem, so false propaganda is being carried out against the Congress government through this issue,” he added.

With the contribution of agencies