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Himachal Chief Secretary Sanjay Gupta Denies Land Deal, Project Benefit Allegations
Shimla, April 1,
Chief Secretary Sanjay Gupta on Tuesday refuted allegations levelled against him regarding grant of benefits to a private project and purchase of land, stating that he had no role in granting any permissions as he was not holding the post of Chief Secretary at the time the approvals were issued.
In a statement issued to the media, Gupta clarified that any decisions related to the project were taken during the tenure of former Chief Secretaries Prabodh Saxena, R D Dhiman and Shrikant Baldi, and not during his tenure.
He maintained that his role in official matters has been limited to duties performed as part of a quasi-judicial authority, and denied any involvement in granting No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to builders.
Responding to a complaint filed by advocate Vinay Sharma, Gupta termed the allegations of corruption and disproportionate assets as unfounded. The complaint had accused him of purchasing land outside the state using alleged kickbacks linked to project clearances.
Gupta stated that the land in question was purchased after obtaining due permission from the competent authority at the time, prior to his appointment as Chief Secretary. He said the amount of around Rs 75 lakh used for the purchase was withdrawn from his General Provident Fund (GPF).
Also read:Chester Hills Solan controversy: CPI(M) seeks probe, flags Section 118 violations in Himachal
He also disputed claims regarding the valuation of the land, stating that the price mentioned in the complaint was inflated and did not reflect the actual market value.
The Chief Secretary further pointed out that the complaint referred to provisions under the Prevention of Corruption Act that are no longer in force, raising questions over the basis of the allegations.
However, separately, in a social media post, advocate Vinay Sharma alleged that Gupta, during his tenure as Secretary (Revenue), facilitated significant financial benefit (1500 Cr) to the Chestor Hills project and overturned administrative decisions taken at the level of local authorities in Solan.
The matter has also drawn reactions on social media from CPI(M) leader Vijender Mehra.
No official probe has been announced so far.
About the Author
The HimachalScape Bureau comprises seasoned journalists from Himachal Pradesh with over 25 years of experience in leading media conglomerates such as The Times of India and United News of India. Known for their in-depth regional insights, the team brings credible, research-driven, and balanced reportage on Himachal’s socio-political and developmental landscape.
