Shimla, July 30
The suspension of Constable Dinesh Kumar, a key prosecution witness in the 2017 Gudiya custodial death case, has triggered a fresh controversy after the Shimla Police issued a detailed rebuttal to allegations made by his family, while the constable maintained that he was being targeted for standing by his testimony before the CBI and the court.
In a press statement issued on Thursday, the Shimla Police said Dinesh Kumar’s suspension had no connection with the Gudiya case and was based on repeated acts of indiscipline and violation of departmental procedures.
The police said a complaint received on April 30, 2026, accused the then SHO, Chopal, and Dinesh Kumar of abusing local residents near Kalra Dhar, snatching money and belongings, and threatening to implicate them in a false criminal case. An inquiry conducted by the SDPO, Theog, reportedly found misconduct on their part. While the then SHO was issued a show-cause notice and shifted to Police Lines, Kaithu, Dinesh Kumar was sent on duty to Police Station Nankhari. According to the department, he failed to comply with the deployment order for nearly two weeks before reporting on June 21.
The police further stated that despite the misconduct allegations, Dinesh Kumar was accommodated on humanitarian grounds at his preferred posting as Naib Court at Theog in view of his family circumstances. However, it alleged that he continued to seek a permanent posting in Shimla by approaching different authorities with contradictory representations and attempting to exert pressure on senior officers. The department said these actions led to his suspension and the ordering of a regular departmental inquiry.
Dinesh Kumar, however, has rejected the department’s stand and alleged that he is being subjected to a witch-hunt because he truthfully deposed before the CBI and the trial court in the Gudiya custodial death case. His testimony formed a crucial part of the prosecution case that led to the conviction of several police personnel. His family has alleged that the disciplinary action is retaliatory in nature, an allegation denied by the police.
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The controversy has revived public attention on the Gudiya custodial death case, with questions likely to be raised over whether the departmental proceedings are entirely independent of Dinesh Kumar’s role as a prosecution witness. While the police maintains the action is based solely on service conduct, Dinesh Kumar continues to assert that the proceedings are a consequence of his testimony against fellow police officials.
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