3 Shimla right wing activists slapped notice for accusing vendor of spitting into roasted chickpeas

SHIMLA: A controversy that began with an allegation in the heart of Shimla’s Kalibari area has now taken a legal turn. The Shimla police have, acting firmly on what they called “potentially communal and defamatory content”, issued formal notices to three persons, Kalpana Sharma, Shweta and Vijay, demanding that they produce concrete evidence of their claims or face legal action.

The trio, said to be affiliated with the right wing Devbhoomi Sangharsh Samiti, had accused a snack seller from a particular community of spitting on roasted chickpeas and other snacks before selling them to customers.

Police officials confirmed that the trio has been given time to submit proof. “The matter is under investigation, but if no substantial evidence is produced, we will proceed with legal steps against those making baseless allegations,” a senior police officer told the media.

Vendor claims he being targeted because of his community

The incident took place on April 9 near the famous Kalibari temple in Shimla. Kalpana, Shweta and Vijay confronted a street vendor who was selling roasted chickpeas and other snacks, claiming he was contaminating the food by spitting into it.

This led to a heated verbal exchange between the vendor and the three persons, during which a crowd began to gather.
Passersby recorded videos of the confrontation, and within hours the footage went viral across social media platforms.
In the video, the argument can be seen escalating, with the vendor repeatedly denying the allegations. He claimed he had done nothing unhygienic and that he was being unfairly targeted because of his community background.

From street dispute to social media storm

The visuals quickly drew mixed reactions online. While some viewers demanded the immediate arrest of the vendor for endangering public health, others accused the accusers of trying to incite communal disharmony without proof.
The very next day, Vijay and Shweta organised a press conference at the historic Ridge Ground in Shimla. In front of TV cameras and journalists, they reiterated their claims and demanded strong action against the vendor.

They described the incident as “a health hazard and a case of deliberate misconduct”, further insisting that this was not an isolated case but part of a “larger pattern” they intended to expose.
Amid growing public pressure and the communal undertones of the case, the Shimla police stepped in. They clarified that an investigation had been launched and asked the public to refrain from jumping to conclusions based on viral videos.

On Friday (April 11, 2025), the police officially served notices to the three complainants, asking them to provide verifiable evidence or witness statements to support their claim. Failing that, the police warned, they could be booked for spreading misinformation and inciting communal tension under applicable laws.

Munish Sood