S Gopal Puri
Shimla: When a gas blast rocked Shimla’s Himachal Rasoi restaurant on July 18, 2023, no one imagined that the life of its 38-year-old owner would be shattered not just by the explosion, but by what followed — a chain of events now raising unsettling questions about the alleged misuse of power, institutional decay and the erosion of public trust.
IPS officer Sanjeev Gandhi recently came forward with explosive claims that the NSG was allegedly involved in planting or falsely reporting RDX traces in the blast case. If these allegations hold true, these don’t just point to institutional overreach but expose a system where a common citizen can be sacrificed in the name of personal or political vendetta.
A CID report dated May 8, 2025, contradicts the RDX narrative. It states that the NSG did not take the local police into confidence, collected samples in unsealed packets and operated without neutral witnesses, all of which allegedly violate basic investigative protocols.
Notably, this national agency reached the site four days after the incident, raising further questions about the authenticity of its findings.
But amid this bureaucratic and political chess game, who thought about the man at the centre of it all?
The 38-year-old owner of Himachal Rasoi, who had no criminal background and was trying to earn an honest living, found himself accused in a case linked to explosives. His mental health, livelihood and family life were irreparably damaged. While officials battled over jurisdiction and narrative, his dignity was lost in the noise.
Did anyone ask what he did to deserve this?
His case represents a stark example of the human cost of systemic failure. In a nation that promises equality before the law, how did a restaurant owner become a suspect in a terror-related investigation — without solid evidence, due process or accountability?
The government must address the issue with urgency. The degradation of systems — where agencies act without transparency and ordinary citizens become collateral damage — threatens the very fabric of our democracy.This is not just about one man’s life being ruined but about the kind of governance we are getting.
Where does the common man go when the system meant to protect him turns against him?
The government must come out in public with an impartial investigation to reaffirm the principles of justice and democracy. Without accountability, trust in the system erodes — something no democracy can afford.
