Sukhu govt lodges FIR against rebel Himachal Congress MLA’s father, Independent legislator for ‘horse-trading’ in Rajya Sabha poll
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TNR Desk
Amid the political crisis facing the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu government in Himachal Pradesh, an FIR has been lodged against disqualified Congress MLA Chaitanya Sharma’s father Rakesh Sharma and Independent legislator Ashish Sharma, among others, at the Boileauganj police station in Shimla in connection with the alleged horse-trading during the recent Rajya Sabha election and purported efforts to destabilise the state government during the Assembly session.
Jointly filed by Congress MLA and Chief Parliamentary Secretary Sanjay Awasthi along with MLA Bhuvneshwar Gaur, the complaint outlines a series of alleged activities aimed at influencing the outcome of the Rajya Sabha election and impeding the passage of the Finance Bill during the Vidhan Sabha budget session.
According to the complainants, extensive measures, including the use of helicopters, paramilitary forces and outside vehicles, were orchestrated to undermine the state government’s stability.
The Shimla police have initiated an investigation into the matter. Superintendent of Police Sanjeev Gandhi confirmed that the case had been registered under several sections, including 171A, 171C, 120B and sections 7 and 8 of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Chaitanya’s father Rakesh Sharma is the former Chief Secretary of Uttarakhand. Responding to the development, Chaitanya asserted that the accusations against his father were politically motivated. He accused Chief Minister Sukhu of targeting him and five other MLAs unjustly.
He claimed that harassment tactics, such as blocking access to their residences and assessing their properties, had been employed against them.
Chaitanya along with Ashish said that they had not received official confirmation or a copy of the FIR. They said they would take legal action against those responsible for filing what they called “false charges”. The six Congress rebels — Chaitanya, Sudhir Sharma, Rajinder Rana, Ravi Thakur, ID Lakhanpal and Davinder Bhutto — had cross-voted for BJP nominee Harsh Mahajan, leading to the defeat of Congress candidate Abhishek Manu Singhvi in the Rajya Sabha election from the lone seat in Himachal Pradesh.
