The verbal confrontation between former Himachal Pradesh chief secretaries Shrikant Baldi and Sanjay Gupta escalated significantly on Saturday.
Baldi's Response to FIR
Baldi, who previously chaired the real estate regulatory authority (Rera), issued a press statement asserting that the First Information Report (FIR) filed against him was false, baseless, and devoid of any substance. The FIR, registered in Shimla on May 30, followed a complaint by Gupta alleging defamation.
Baldi explained that the FIR stemmed from his press statement on April 12, which he claimed was supported by documentary evidence. He stood by his remarks, including the phrase "doubtful integrity" directed at Gupta.
Allegations Against Gupta
In his earlier statement, Baldi had questioned two orders that Gupta allegedly issued while serving as chief secretary concerning a housing project in Solan district. Baldi accused Gupta of misusing his official position on his last day in office to file a false FIR, aiming to divert attention from alleged irregularities tied to the housing project.
Baldi further alleged that Gupta had issued "wrong orders" during earlier postings in districts. He referenced a May 24 press statement by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) opposing Gupta's appointment as chief secretary, which cited a pending public interest litigation in the high court. According to Baldi, this litigation mentioned three prior FIRs against Gupta in corruption cases. He also highlighted allegations regarding Gupta's arrest by the vigilance bureau in Solan in 2009 after Rs 2 lakh in cash was reportedly recovered from his vehicle.
Gupta's Rebuttal
Rejecting all allegations, Gupta responded to the Times of India, urging Baldi to present all facts and documents to the police. He emphasized that "mere registration of an FIR does not make a person of doubtful integrity", citing the Supreme Court's judgment in the Janakiraman case. According to Gupta, only a person against whom prosecution sanction has been granted falls under the category of doubtful integrity.
Gupta suggested that Baldi should instead question the appointment of a former chief secretary against whom the government had already issued a prosecution sanction. He also accused Baldi of failing to mention the registration of projects that violated the revenue department's orders. Furthermore, Gupta noted that an IAS officer before Baldi had issued an order favoring the Solan housing project, which the Solan municipal commissioner did not comply with.
To counter the 2009 arrest allegation, Gupta cited a 2017 judgment by the Shimla special court that ordered the cancellation of that FIR. He also stated that the state government had given him a clean chit in a separate corruption case registered in Kinnaur in 1996 following a detailed inquiry. Additionally, Gupta claimed that the government had granted him vigilance clearance and an integrity certificate.
