Shimla:
What began as a land deal controversy has now spiraled into a full-blown crisis at the highest levels of Himachal Pradesh’s bureaucracy, with Chief Secretary Sanjay Gupta not only rejecting allegations against him but also publicly accusing former top two chief secretaries —effectively blowing the lid off what appears to be a deep-rooted malaise and rift and corruption at the top level.
Facing mounting heat after a viral video and a formal complaint by former deputy Advocate General Vinay Sharma, Gupta came out strongly, calling all allegations “false, and malicious.”
The controversy centres around a three-acre land purchase allegedly linked to the Chester Hills project, with accusations that the land was acquired as a quid pro quo.
Gupta’s Defence: “No Link, No Favour, No Violation”
In a detailed rebuttal when confronted by media Gupta claimed that:The land was purchased in July 2025 after due government permission
He was not serving as Chief Secretary at that time.The transaction predates his appointment on October 1.
The land was bought at around ₹1.35 crore, above the collector rate of ₹1.10 crore
“There is no connection whatsoever between this land purchase and any official decision,” he maintained, dismissing claims of impropriety or favouritism.
Counterattack: Former Chief Secretaries in the Dock
But in attempting to clear his name, Gupta escalated the crisis dramatically. He alleged a “conspiracy” against him involving former Chief Secretaries Prabodh Saxena and R D Dhiman.
This explosive claim has shifted the narrative from a personal allegation to a systemic crisis. The spotlight is now firmly on the internal functioning of Himachal’s top bureaucracy, raising uncomfortable questions:
Are senior bureaucrats locked in factional battles and run allegedly by real estate mafias?
Is the administrative machinery being influenced by real estate interests?
Has governance taken a backseat to internal power struggles and land deals?
CPM Turns Up Heat, Seeks Resignation
The Communist Party of India (Marxist), cited documents and the viral video and Sharma’s complaint, has demanded Gupta’s resignation, calling for a transparent and independent probe.
The party argues that the issue goes beyond one officer and reflects a deeper malaise in governance. “When the Chief Secretary himself is under a cloud, accountability cannot be selective,” party leaders said.
Political Pressure Mounts on CM Sukhu
With the controversy snowballing, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu now finds himself at the centre of a growing storm.
The unfolding “war within the bureaucracy” has put the government in a tight spot, with urgent questions demanding answers:
Will the government order an independent judicial or high-level probe?
How will it address the serious allegations exchanged among top officials?
Can public trust be restored amid claims of a “real estate-bureaucracy nexus”?
A System Under Scrutiny
Gupta may have intended to “clear the air,” but his statements have instead opened a Pandora’s box. What has emerged is not just a defence—but a rare, public exposure of fractures at the very top of governance.
As allegations and counter-allegations fly, one thing is clear: this is no longer just about a land deal. It is about the credibility of the system itself.
And as the dust refuses to settle, Himachal Pradesh is left confronting an uncomfortable possibility—that its bureaucracy, meant to serve the public, may be entangled in something far more opaque.
