Gadkari calls CM Sukhu, seeks action in assault case
Yog Raj Sharma
The North News
Shimla, July 1
The Himachal Pradesh Police have filed a criminal case against Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh, following serious allegations that he physically assaulted a senior official from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) during a site inspection in Shimla district. The complaint, lodged by NHAI Manager Achal Jindal, stems from an incident at Bhatta Kufar, where a five-storey building collapsed earlier this week.
The controversy has also drawn the attention of the Union government. Nitin Gadkari, the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, has taken note of the incident and is said to have spoken directly to Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, urging him to take appropriate and prompt action.
As of now, the Sukhu-led Himachal Pradesh government has not issued an official response to the allegations. Minister Singh has also not publicly addressed the charges.
According to Jindal, he had arrived at the site around 11:30 am after attending a meeting called by the local Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM). Upon arrival, Jindal alleges he was first verbally abused in public by the minister and then assaulted behind closed doors. The SDM was reportedly present during the encounter.
Jindal was later taken to Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) Hospital for examination, and a medico-legal certificate was issued. Based on his complaint, Minister Anirudh Singh has been charged under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, revised criminal code, including provisions relating to assault and obstruction of public duty.
The allegations have triggered a political storm in the state, with the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) calling for the minister’s immediate dismissal. Former Chief Minister and Leader of the Opposition Jai Ram Thakur condemned the incident, saying, “Such behaviour is not just unbecoming of a public servant—it undermines democratic norms and institutional dignity.”
