In Himachal ‘samosa scandal’, now FIR against CID staff for leaking confidential info

MANDI: In a significant development, a case has been registered against CID staff members in Himachal Pradesh for leaking confidential information related to the now-infamous “samosa scandal”, which not only embarrassed the government but also provided political ammunition to the opposition.

The complaint, filed by SP CID Rajesh Kumar at Chhota Shimla police station, alleges that the unauthorised disclosure of internal documents further damaged the image of both the state government and the CID.

The police have initiated an investigation into the leak, with plans to question several CID officials and staff involved.

The leaked information, which quickly spread across electronic, print and social media platforms, drew widespread criticism and ridicule, escalating what was initially a minor incident into a full-blown political controversy.

Minor error that made major headlines

The controversy happened in October 21, 2024, when Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu visited the CID headquarters in Shimla.
During the event, refreshments, including samosas and cakes, were arranged from a local hotel. However, due to a simple miscommunication, the snacks meant for the Chief Minister were mistakenly served to his security personnel.
While the catering error seemed trivial, it triggered an internal inquiry led by a Deputy Superintendent of Police.
The goal was to understand how such a mix-up occurred during a high-profile visit. But what was intended as a routine internal investigation took an unexpected turn when details of the inquiry were leaked to the media.

Political uproar and opposition’s response

The leaked documents sparked a media frenzy, turning the “samosa scandal” into a statewide sensation.
The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) quickly capitalised on the opportunity, criticising the Congress-led state government for focusing on such minor issues while allegedly neglecting more significant governance matters.

Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur openly mocked the government’s priorities and BJP workers organised symbolic protests, distributing samosas to the public in a satirical jab at the ruling administration.

The incident became fodder for social media, with memes and debates flooding timelines, much to the embarrassment of the government.

The leak that fuelled the fire

While the samosa mix-up was initially dismissed as a minor blunder, the real controversy erupted when internal documents about the investigation surfaced in the media.

The unauthorised leak not only prolonged the scandal but also intensified political criticism, leading to questions about internal accountability within the CID.

In response, SP CID Rajesh Kumar launched an internal probe to identify those responsible for leaking the documents. The investigation revealed that certain CID staff members had deliberately shared the sensitive information, prompting the formal police complaint.

With the registration of the case, the focus has now shifted to holding those responsible for the leak accountable. The Shimla police are set to question several CID officials and staff, while the government works to mitigate the damage to its public image.

Munish Sood(Mandi)