Himachal additional chief secretary, DGP & Shimla SP asked to go on leave

SHIMLA: Himachal Pradesh additional chief secretary (home and revenue) Onkar Chand Sharma, director general of police Atul Verma, and Shimla superintendent of police Sanjeev Gandhi were asked on Tuesday to proceed on leave after a meeting chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu held with senior officials. The meeting was in response to the fiasco after Gandhi's press conference last week against senior state government officers, including the DGP's office.

Chief minister held a meeting with chief secretary Prabodh Saxena, advocate-general Anup Kumar Rattan, and the chief minister's secretary, Rakesh Kanwar. The discussion focused on the issue related to the high court handing over to the CBI the probe into the mysterious death of Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Ltd (HPPCL) general manager Vimal Negi . The state government is likely to issue a show-cause notice to these officers.

During Sharma's leave period, the state government has handed over additional charge of the home and revenue department to Kamlesh Kumar Pant. Additional charge of the Jal Shakti Vibhag has been given to Kadam Sandeep Vasant, and additional charge of the tribal development department to Rakhil Kahlon.

During the earned leave period of DGP Verma, 1993-batch IPS officer Ashok Tiwari will hold additional charge of the post of DGP. Tiwari is currently director-general of the state vigilance and anti-corruption bureau. DGP Verma is set to superannuate on May 31.

Additionally, during the medical leave period of Shimla SP Gandhi, Solan SP Gaurav Singh will hold additional charge as Shimla SP.