The Chester Hill-2 and Chester Hill-4 project controversy in Himachal Pradesh is intensifying. Advocate Vinay Sharma filed a complaint on March 24 at Chhota Shimla police station against Chief Secretary Sanjay Gupta. However, the police have not registered an FIR so far and are now set to forward the complaint to the state government.

The decision on whether to register an FIR will now be taken by the government. Vinay Sharma has stated that he demanded an FIR based on the SDM Solan’s inquiry report into an alleged land scam worth Rs 1,500 crore. He has warned of moving the High Court due to police inaction.

Political Pressure Mounts on Government

Meanwhile, the CPI(M) has also opened a front against Sanjay Gupta, levelling serious allegations and demanding his removal along with an SIT probe. The party has warned of a Secretariat gherao if action is not taken.

Following Sharma’s complaint and the CPI(M)’s press conference, pressure has increased on the government to register an FIR. The BJP, the state’s main opposition party, has also demanded Gupta’s removal from the post.

Allegations of Irregularities in Land Purchase

At the centre of the controversy are allegations of irregularities in the purchase of around 275 bighas of land in Solan district for the Chester Hill projects. The land was reportedly registered in the names of individuals who allegedly lacked the financial capacity to make such large purchases.

The complaint alleges that the land was benami and acquired for outsiders, in violation of Section 118 of the Himachal Pradesh Tenancy and Land Reforms Act, 1972, which restricts non-residents from purchasing land without government approval.

SDM Inquiry Points to Large-Scale Violations

Earlier, the SDM Solan conducted an inquiry after receiving complaints about irregularities in the land deals. The probe reportedly found substantial evidence of wrongdoing. The findings were then submitted to the Deputy Commissioner, who also acknowledged discrepancies and recommended further action to the state government.

Allegations Against Chief Secretary

Vinay Sharma has alleged that the SDM’s report was suppressed by then Revenue Secretary Sanjay Gupta, leading to irregularities. He further claimed that Gupta later purchased high-value property in New Chandigarh. Based on these allegations, Sharma submitted his complaint to the police.

Issue Reaches Assembly, War of Words Intensifies

The controversy has also echoed in the Himachal Pradesh Assembly, with both CPI(M) and BJP demanding Gupta’s removal. However, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu termed it an internal tussle among officials when questioned by the media.

In response, Sanjay Gupta accused former Chief Secretaries RD Dhiman and Prabodh Saxena of conspiring against him. He also questioned former RERA Chairman Shrikant Baldi, stating that construction approvals in the Chester Hill project were granted under his tenure.

Questions Raised Over Government’s Stand

When asked about the bureaucratic conflict, Chief Minister Sukhu refrained from taking direct action and instead described it as a dispute among officials. His stance has drawn criticism from Leader of Opposition Jairam Thakur, who questioned the government’s silence and said that similar allegations in the past had led to the removal of a Chief Secretary.

The controversy continues to deepen, with legal, political, and administrative implications likely to unfold in the coming days.