Legal trouble has mounted significantly for Himachal Pradesh senior police officer and former Shimla SP and DIG Sanjeev Gandhi, as a second FIR was registered against him within a span of 24 hours. The fresh criminal case involves the alleged misappropriation of government funds originally allocated for police residential quarters and barracks, amounting to over Rs 14.07 lakh, which was unauthorizedly diverted towards the renovation of his official bungalow. The action follows an audit investigation that uncovered serious procedural and financial irregularities, prompting the police headquarters to order immediate legal proceedings.
Audit Committee Unearths Extensive Financial Breaches
An audit committee constituted by the Director General of Police (DGP) office conducted an extensive review of the funds sanctioned for police infrastructure in Shimla. Following findings of severe fiscal violations, case FIR No. 139/2026 was registered on October 22, 2026, at Shimla Police Station against the then SP Shimla Sanjeev Gandhi under Section 316(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The section pertains to criminal breach of trust committed by a public servant. Reacting to the initial case registered on October 22, Sanjeev Gandhi had stated that he would never leave the path of truth.
According to the findings in the audit report, approximately Rs 1.28 crore had been allocated between the financial years 2022-23 and 2024-25 for the repair, maintenance, and upkeep of police buildings and staff quarters in the district. Out of this total allocation, a sum of Rs 14,07,392 was shown as expenditure on the official residence of the then SSP, designated as 'Southwood'. The audit revealed that neither the state government nor the police headquarters had sanctioned any separate budget for this residence. Furthermore, these specific repair works were absent from the original approved proposals, and no records of prior permission or mandatory approvals from competent authorities could be found.
Diversion of Funds Meant for Rampur and Shoghi Police Units
The audit scrutiny also brought to light deliberate diversions of funds from other police units to the SP's official residence. A budgetary allocation of Rs 2.80 lakh, approved specifically for the maintenance of the DSP residence in Rampur, was never spent on that property. Instead, the entire amount was booked as expenditure on the then SP's official residence located in Shimla, leaving the Rampur building without the planned repairs.
In another instance, an amount of Rs 2.50 lakh earmarked for repairing the police barrier cabin at Shoghi was withdrawn in February 2023 under the claim that the work had been completed. This amount was subsequently accounted for as expenditure on the SSP's residence. However, the audit team found no physical or documentary evidence of any repair work having been executed at Shoghi. Current Shimla SP Gaurav Singh pointed out that personnel at the Shoghi police post are still forced to operate out of a cargo container under extremely challenging conditions. He noted that the lack of clear records regarding how these funds were actually disbursed makes the matter subject to a rigorous criminal probe.
Unsanctioned Works and Year-Wise Budget Misuse
The financial infractions continued across multiple financial years. During 2023-24, Rs 1.62 lakh was recorded as spent on the SSP residence, followed by another Rs 7.22 lakh in 2024-25. In both instances, neither advance approvals nor recommendations from the district-level committee were present in the administrative records.
Furthermore, under the 2025-26 fiscal plan, 50 works with an estimated budget of Rs 28.67 lakh had been proposed. Records indicated that while 22 of those works were carried out, 13 were completely outside the scope of the original approved proposals. The audit committee raised serious questions regarding how funds were routed to projects that lacked formal administrative sanction. Following these findings, police headquarters instructed Shimla police to register an FIR to trace the actual flow of funds and determine whether mandatory financial protocols were bypassed.
Overstaying in Official Bungalow Eight Months Past Transfer
Beyond the allegations of financial impropriety, Sanjeev Gandhi faces scrutiny for unauthorized retention of official accommodation. He was transferred from the post of SP Shimla in February 2026. However, he has not vacated the official designated SP residence to date. Under established service regulations, an officer is permitted to retain designated official quarters for a maximum of one month following a transfer.
All previous officers who held the post of SP Shimla had vacated the premises within the stipulated 30-day window upon relinquishing charge. In contrast, Gandhi continues to occupy the property approximately eight months after his transfer, causing operational hurdles for the incoming administration.
Two Back-to-Back Cases Within 24 Hours
This fresh FIR is the second legal action initiated against Gandhi on October 22. In the earlier case, a police constable lodged a formal complaint alleging that he had been defrauded of Rs 1,87,890. The constable stated that during 2024 and 2025, he was entrusted with executing various official departmental arrangements and had incurred expenses from his personal funds.
The complainant stated that on February 6, 2026, Sanjeev Gandhi summoned him and fraudulently had him sign payment vouchers. Instead of disbursing the reimbursement to the constable, the funds were transferred into an associated departmental fund account. That matter led to an initial FIR at Sadar Police Station under Section 316(5) of the BNS for criminal breach of trust by a public servant, which was swiftly followed by the second case stemming from the audit report's findings.
