‘Baseless’: Himachal Chief Secretary denies Chester Hills scam allegations
Sanjay Gupta refutes CPM’s corruption claims, alleges conspiracy by ex-bureaucrats as BJP seeks probe
A day after the CPM levelled serious allegations of corruption against Himachal Chief Secretary Sanjay Gupta in connection with the Chester Hills project in Solan, Gupta on Tuesday dismissed the charges as baseless, asserting he had no role in any irregularities.
Addressing mediapersons, Gupta strongly refuted claims that he had stalled an inquiry into alleged irregular land transactions linked to the project. The CPM had flagged discrepancies in land purchases and accused Gupta of influencing the probe. It also alleged that he had acquired land in Parwanoo and New Chandigarh at undervalued rates.
Rejecting the allegations, Gupta clarified that he had purchased the land in July 2025 after obtaining due government permission. “The collector rate of the land was Rs 1.10 crore, while I purchased it for Rs 1.35 crore,” he said, dismissing any suggestion of undervaluation. He further explained that Rs 75 lakh for the purchase had been withdrawn from his general provident fund (GPF) in June.
Gupta alleged that the accusations were part of a larger conspiracy to tarnish his image, claiming that two former Chief Secretaries were behind the complaint. He described the charges as misleading and motivated.
He also pointed out that vigilance agencies were already probing related matters, with two FIRs registered against a former HPSEBL official and a former Chief Secretary.
The Enforcement Directorate, he added, had
also initiated action in connection with alleged irregularities in the Rs 130-crore Kunihar-Nalagarh transmission line project.
Meanwhile, the BJP raised the issue in the Assembly, with MLA Satpal Satti urging the Chief Minister to order a comprehensive probe and take appropriate action to ensure accountability.
