Who ate CM Sukhu's samosa? Himachal CID may punish 5 own

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Snack once synonymous with Bihar ex-CM Lalu Prasad now hogs limelight in North

In his heydays as a politician, former Bihar CM Lalu Prasad would openly declare in public meetings, “Jab tak samose mein rahega aloo, tab tak rahega Bihar mein Lalu (till aloo or potato exist in snack samosa, Lalu will rule Bihar).”

While that hasn’t held true for his party RJD’s hold on Bihar, samosas are now sparking a different political stir in Himachal Pradesh, where a probe has been ordered over a mix-up involving samosas meant for Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu.

Labelled as anti-govt act

In a curious turn of events, the Himachal’s CID has launched an investigation to determine who ate samosas intended for CM Sukhu, following a mix-up at five-star hotel Radisson Blu.

The incident occurred on October 21, when three cartons containing samosas and cakes, ordered specifically for the Chief Minister, mistakenly went to the wrong table.

The Himachal Pradesh government has since labelled this as an “anti-government” act, sparking the issuance of show-cause notices against five police officials of the CM’s security, including a female inspector.

CM advised against having oily food

According to sources close to the CM, the situation is particularly baffling because Sukhu, having recently recovered from an illness, is avoiding spicy and oily foods, including samosas.

Nonetheless, the CID probe is pressing forward, with the five accused officials in the process of recording their final statements. A senior police officer who is leading the inquiry has recommended disciplinary action, and submitted a detailed report to the IG (CID) on October 25.

‘Look, what’s cooking!’ BJP takes potshots

The opposition BJP has seized upon the “samosa controversy,” accusing the government of prioritising the Chief Minister’s snack preferences over pressing state issues.

BJP MLA and media in-charge Randhir Sharma commented, “It seems the government is less focused on development and more on food-related matters, as seen in this so-called ‘anti-government’ incident.”

How the snack mix-up happened

The confusion unfolded during CM Sukhu’s visit to the CID headquarters in Shimla. For this visit, an order for samosas and cake was placed with the Radisson Blu Hotel in Lakkar Bazaar, intended specifically for the Chief Minister.

However, the three sealed snack boxes ended up being served to his security staff instead. An officer of the DSP rank investigated the incident, which the government labelled as an “anti-government” act.

Instructions from top brass spark chain reaction

Reports indicate that an IG-rank officer directed a sub-inspector (SI) to arrange snacks for the Chief Minister. The SI, in turn, delegated this task to an assistant sub-inspector (ASI) and a head constable, who brought the sealed boxes from the hotel.

The officers then sought confirmation from tourism department personnel on whether the items were part of the CM’s menu, leading to further confusion. In the absence of clear communication, the boxes ultimately went to the security team rather than the Chief Minister.

Political fallout and allegations of mismanagement

In an official note, a CID officer raised concerns, alleging that those involved acted against the interests of both the CID and the government.

The report has turned the incident into a hot-button topic, with the opposition BJP seizing upon it as an example of government mismanagement.

BJP leaders argue that such lack of coordination, particularly in events involving VVIPs like the Chief Minister, underscores failures within the state administration.

BJP’s Sharma remarked, “A government so focused on snacks rather than governance exposes its priorities. This incident reflects the need for the administration to refocus on development and coordination.”

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