In a recent decision, the Supreme Court declined to intervene in a Himachal Pradesh High Court order that restrained the filing of a chargesheet against a former senior police official and other state officers. The charges were related to allegedly threatening a businessman over the sale of his family’s shares in a private firm.
Justices B.V. Nagarathna and Satish Chandra Sharma, presiding over the matter, emphasized the ongoing proceedings at the Himachal Pradesh High Court, stating it was prudent to allow the high court to continue its examination of the chargesheet filings.
The controversy began when Nishant Sharma, a businessman from Palampur, accused former Himachal Pradesh Director General of Police, Sanjay Kundu, and other partners of coercing him into selling his shares. Following these allegations, the Himachal Pradesh High Court initiated an investigation led by a Special Investigation Team (SIT), which included two inspector general rank officers, Santosh Kumar Patial and Abhishek Dular.
Despite the completion of the investigation, Advocate General Anup Kumar Rattan reported that the high court had mandated the inclusion of additional sections in the FIR, complicating the filing process. The Supreme Court, however, found no grounds to interfere, suggesting the state pursue matters further in the high court.
This legal tangle has seen numerous developments, including adverse reports from incumbent DGP Atul Verma regarding the investigation’s handling and subsequent court orders directing further scrutiny and adjustments in the investigative team.
