Former Hamirpur MLA Ashish Sharma Interrogated by Shimla police in government toppling conspiracy case
Ashish Sharma, a former independent MLA from Hamirpur and the BJP candidate in the upcoming by-election, appeared before the Shimla police on Saturday (June 22, 2024) in connection with a case involving an alleged conspiracy to topple the majority government of Himachal Pradesh.
The police questioned Sharma for approximately two hours at the Boileauganj police station.
Sharma is accused of orchestrating a plot to destabilise the state government by arranging accommodation, food, drinks and helicopter transportation for six rebel Congress MLAs in luxury hotels.
The case was registered on March 10. The investigation also includes retired IAS officer Rakesh Sharma, the father of former Gagret MLA Chaitanya Sharma.
The interrogation marks Ashish Sharma’s summoning the third time by the police. He had previously been summoned on June 13 and 18 but failed to appear before the police. In a related development, four days ago, Tarun Bhandari, campaign adviser to former Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar, also appeared before Shimla police for questioning.
The investigation was initiated following an FIR filed by Congress MLAs Sanjay Awasthy and Bhuvneshwar Gaur on March 10, accusing Ashish Sharma and Rakesh Sharma of conspiring to overthrow the government. The police are currently collecting evidence related to the case, including the financial arrangements for the accommodation and meals of the rebel MLAs.
Following a cross-vote in the Rajya Sabha elections on February 27, three independent MLAs and six rebel Congress MLAs reportedly stayed in a hotel in Panchkula for about two weeks, before moving to Rishikesh and then Gurugram. The police are investigating who financed their stay and other related expenses.
Speaking to the media after his interrogation, Ashish Sharma asserted that he had answered all the police’s questions and requested that any further inquiries be postponed until after July 10, citing the urgency of his by-election campaign.
