CID Files FIR in Himachal Over 'Samosa Row'; BJP Calls It 'Attack on Media'

Shimla: The Himachal Pradesh Police have filed an FIR against unknown persons in the infamous 'samosa row', in which the popular deep-fried snack reportedly went missing from an event attended by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu last year.

The FIR was registered based on a complaint by SP CID Rajesh Kumar, who accuses that confidential CID documents were leaked to the media. The FIR has been filed for theft, forgery, public mischief, and criminal conspiracy related to the leaking of information and documents from the CID.

According to the FIR, the leak of the confidential CID documents damaged the reputation of both the CID and the state government.

"It has come to the notice that confidential information and documents from the CID have been unlawfully leaked and are being misused to tarnish the reputation of both the CID and the state government," the complaint reads.

Alos Read: CID Probe Ordered Over Missing Samosas Meant for Himachal CM Sukhu

It further states that an internal inquiry revealed that certain CID staff, in connivance with others, unlawfully accessed, copied, and made the confidential documents public for an ulterior motive.

"There was a dishonest intent and conspiracy to leak the documents to the media from time to time. As a result, the documents were widely disseminated across electronic, print, and social media at both the state and national levels. The vested interests of the persons involved are a clear threat to malign the reputation of the CID and the government at large," the complaint further states.

The FIR was filed at Shimla East Police Station under sections 305(e) (committing theft), 336(4) (crime of forgery with the intent to harm someone's reputation), 353(2) (making statements that incite enmity or hatred), 59 (a public servant concealing or lying about plans to commit a crime), 60 (the act of concealing plans to commit a crime that could result in imprisonment), and 61 (criminal conspiracy) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

Also Read: Sukhu Samosa Row: Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha Holds 'Samosa March' in Shimla

BJP Calls It 'Attack on Media'

Taking a jibe at the Himachal Pradesh government over the 'samosa row,' Leader of Opposition and former Chief Minister Jairam Thakur called the government's actions directionless and dictatorial.

Thakur criticized the authorities for wasting resources on finding out who ate the samosa, and now, he said, the FIR is being filed on the matter. He further labeled the FIR as an "attack on media freedom."

Slamming the Sukhu government, Thakur said: "The Sukhu government has become directionless, chaotic, and dictatorial. The police department created chaos because the Chief Minister could not get a samosa. The resources and energy of the state government were wasted investigating who ate the samosa. Now, the resources are being wasted on finding out who leaked the 'state CID samosa row' or who reported it in the media and why?"

He also questioned why the police are not investigating murders and mining mafias as crime increases daily in the state.

"The police are not taking any action even after locals complained about illegal mining. There is anarchy all over the state. The mafia is out of control and is challenging the credibility of the government. But the police are busy searching for samosas and those who leaked the investigation into the 'samosa controversy,'" Thakur said.

Also Read: BJP MLA Orders 11 Samosas For CM Sukhu As Congress Govt In Himachal Face Backlash Over CID Inquiry

What is the Samosa Row?

A CID probe was ordered by the Himachal Pradesh government in November last year into an incident where samosas and cakes meant to be served to Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu were instead served to his security staff.