Former Shimla SP faces second FIR over Rs 14.07 lakh home repairs

Audit flags diversion of funds meant for police housing; Rampur and Shoghi allocations also under scanner

Shimla, Oct 23,

A second FIR has been registered against former Shimla Superintendent of Police Sanjeev Kumar Gandhi over alleged financial irregularities involving funds allocated for the repair and maintenance of police buildings and personnel accommodation, with an audit reportedly finding that Rs 14.07 lakh was shown as spent on his official residence, ‘Southwood’, without separate budgetary approval.

According to a press release issued on Friday, the case was registered on October 22 as FIR No. 139/2026 under Section 316(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), following findings in a report submitted by an audit committee constituted by the Himachal Pradesh Police Headquarters.

The audit examined expenditure from 2022-23 to 2024-25 against an allocation of approximately Rs 1.28 crore for the repair and maintenance of police buildings and government accommodation for police personnel. It reportedly found that Rs 14,07,392 had been shown as expenditure on Gandhi’s official residence, ‘Southwood’, although neither the state government nor Police Headquarters had separately sanctioned a budget for its repairs.

The press release stated that the works were not part of the original proposals and that records of prior approval from the competent authority and other necessary sanctions were not available.

Among the specific discrepancies flagged in the audit was the alleged use of Rs 2.80 lakh sanctioned for repairs to the SDPO’s residence at Rampur for work at the former SSP’s Shimla residence. Similarly, Rs 2.50 lakh earmarked for repairing the police barrier booth at Shoghi was reportedly recovered in February 2023 on the grounds that the work had been completed, but the expenditure was shown against the SSP’s residence. The audit reportedly found no evidence that the Shoghi repair work had been completed.

The report also flagged expenditure of Rs 1.62 lakh during 2023-24 and Rs 7.22 lakh during 2024-25 on the residence, without the required prior approvals and records of recommendations from the district-level committee.

For 2025-26, an allocation of Rs 28.67 lakh covered 50 proposed works. Records showed that 22 works had been undertaken, of which 13 were reportedly outside the original approved proposal, according to the press release.

The police statement specifically pointed out that the Shoghi police post continues to operate from a container, leaving personnel to perform their duties under difficult conditions.

Also read:Police fund probe leads to FIR against Former Shimla SP Sanjeev Gandhi

As per the press note, the audit has also raised questions about whether the amounts shown as expenditure were actually spent on the stated works and whether prescribed financial rules and procedures were followed. The Police Headquarters ordered registration of the case after the matter was brought to its notice by the Shimla SP, the release stated. The investigation is underway, and further action will depend on the evidence collected.

The press release also raised a separate issue concerning the retention of the official residence. Gandhi was transferred from the post of Shimla SP in February 2026 but, according to the police, has yet to vacate the accommodation designated for the post. The release cited the applicable rules as permitting retention for a maximum of one month after leaving the position, adding that previous officers holding the post had vacated the residence within that period.

The allegations concerning the expenditure and the circumstances surrounding the official accommodation remain subject to investigation and due process.

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