Shimla: An FIR has been registered against DIG Sanjeev Kumar Gandhi, a former Shimla SP, over allegations of cheating a police constable and misappropriating govt funds.Gandhi, a 2012-batch IPS officer, has been serving as managing director of Himachal Backward Classes Finance and Development Corporation since Oct 7. The FIR was registered at Shimla Sadar police station on Thursday.According to the complaint, a constable posted at Kaithu Police Lines was assigned to make official arrangements in 2024-2025 and was assured reimbursement for expenses incurred from his own pocket. He allegedly spent over Rs 1.8 lakh on the arrangements and submitted the bills, which were subsequently scrutinised and approved for payment. The complainant alleged that on Feb 6, 2026, Gandhi called him to his office and obtained his signatures on payment-related vouchers on the pretext that these were required to process the approved amount. However, payment was not released, the complainant says.After filing a complaint in July, the constable approached the accounts branch and learnt that the amount had been withdrawn but was not credited to his account. He was subsequently forced to arrange money from his personal resources to meet his liabilities.An examination of financial records allegedly revealed that around Rs 2.3 lakh had been illegally withdrawn from a district police fund over nearly two years. The records did not specify how the amount was allegedly spent, resulting in a shortfall in the fund. The complaint further alleged that when Gandhi was transferred from the post of Shimla SSP to the personnel department, the amount approved against the constable’s bills was transferred to the concerned fund’s account instead of being paid to him.As per Shimla Police’s press statement, preliminary examination of the records reportedly revealed evidence of alleged cheating, misuse of govt funds and financial irregularities involving the transfer of the complainant’s approved payment to another account in place of the amount previously withdrawn. On the basis of these findings, an FIR has been registered against Gandhi under BNS Sections 316(5), 314, 318, 336 and 340. These provisions relate to criminal breach of trust, dishonest misappropriation of property, cheating, forgery and the use of forged documents.Gandhi did not respond to attempts to contact him for his respose.Gandhi is not new to controversy. In June, DGP Ashok Tewari ordered him to pay Rs 1.8 lakh as penal rent for continuing to occupy a govt residence meant for the Shimla SSP beyond the permitted period. Gandhi did not vacate the accommodation, stating that he had not been allotted another suitable residence. As a result, new Shimla SSP Gaurav Singh could not shift into the earmarked accommodation. In Aug, the DGP ordered a three-member committee to conduct a special audit of repair and maintenance expenses at the official residence of the Shimla SP at Southwood during 2022-25, when Gandhi served as SSP.According to police headquarters, Rs 14 lakh was spent on maintenance and repairs, including over Rs 11 lakh from the Shimla police residential fund and more than Rs 2 lakh from the Shoghi police post maintenance fund. The DGP also ordered an independent financial audit of funds released under the Himachal Pradesh Road Safety Fund and Activities Rules, 2022, by the state traffic, tourist and railways wing when Gandhi was heading this department in July, whereas Gandhi had sought an audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General.
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