Former Shimla SP Sanjeev Gandhi Booked: Financial Fraud Allegations vs. Audit War
Former Shimla SP Sanjeev Gandhi faces an FIR for financial irregularities and cheating after a constable's complaint.
The Shimla police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against former Superintendent of Police (SP) Sanjeev Kumar Gandhi, alleging cheating, misappropriation of government funds, and financial irregularities. The legal action follows a complaint filed by a police constable who claims he was cheated out of reimbursements for official expenses.
The Constable's Complaint: A Case of Missing Money
The controversy began when a police constable, stationed at Police Lines in Kaithu, Shimla, approached the authorities. According to the complaint, the constable was tasked with making official arrangements during 2024 and 2025 and was instructed to cover the costs using his personal funds, with a promise of full reimbursement.
The constable claims he spent a total of Rs 1,87,890 and submitted the necessary bills, which were reportedly approved for payment. However, the situation took a turn on February 6, 2026, when the complainant alleges that Sanjeev Gandhi, then the Shimla SP, misled him into signing payment-related vouchers under the guise of completing formalities to process the payment.
When the constable followed up with the accounts branch in July, he was allegedly shocked to discover that while the money had been withdrawn from the relevant fund, it had never been credited to his personal account.
Deepening Financial Irregularities
The investigation has expanded beyond a single reimbursement. A preliminary examination of financial records mentioned in the complaint suggests a larger pattern of suspected irregular withdrawals. It is alleged that approximately Rs 2.35 lakh was irregularly withdrawn from a district police fund over a period of two years.
Further allegations suggest that the reimbursement meant for the constable was instead transferred back into the fund account to cover a shortfall, rather than being paid to the officer who spent the money.
As a result, the Sadar Police Station in Shimla has booked Gandhi under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Sections 316(5), 314, 318, 336, and 340.
The Counter-Claim: A Retaliatory Move?
Sanjeev Gandhi, who served as the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police before his transfer to the Department of Personnel, has vehemently denied the allegations. He has suggested that the FIR is not about financial misappropriation but is instead a reaction to his own efforts to uncover corruption within the department.
The Battle Over the Road Safety Fund
Before the FIR was filed, Gandhi had been pushing for an independent audit of the Himachal Pradesh Police Road Safety Fund. He had raised serious concerns regarding the utilization of approximately Rs 30 crore sanctioned under this fund for the period 2021–26.
Invoking Rule 6(4) of the Himachal Pradesh Road Safety Fund and Activities Rules 2022, Gandhi demanded an external audit by the Accountant General of Himachal Pradesh. His concerns included:
- Significant gaps in cash books.
- Lack of supporting documentation for completed works.
- Absence of physical verification reports.
- Failure to comply with procurement and expenditure-sanction procedures.
Gandhi argued that an internal departmental audit was insufficient and could not replace the external mechanism required by the rules.
Police Headquarters' Stance
The Police Headquarters did not support Gandhi's demand for an external audit. In a communication dated August 3, Acting Director General of Police Ashok Tiwari reportedly dismissed the request as "premature and misconceived," pointing instead to an internal financial audit that had been ordered on July 31 under the supervision of a Joint Controller.
While Gandhi maintains that the FIR is a direct result of his demand for transparency, there has been no official finding to date establishing that the criminal case was registered as an act of retaliation. Gandhi has stated that he will respond to the allegations through legal channels.