3 min readShimlaJun 5, 2026 09:06 PM IST
The Shimla police on Friday registered an FIR against former Himachal Pradesh Deputy Advocate General Vinay Sharma for allegedly filing a false and defamatory complaint against former Chief Secretary Sanjay Gupta, escalating a bitter legal battle between the two.
The FIR was registered at the Chhota Shimla police station under Sections 248 (false charge with intent to injure), 351 (criminal intimidation) and 356(2) (criminal defamation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Police sources said Gupta, a 1988-batch IAS officer who retired as Chief Secretary on May 31, had lodged a complaint against Sharma in March. The FIR was registered following an inquiry into allegations made by the advocate against the senior bureaucrat.
The dispute stems from a complaint filed by Sharma on March 24 alleging that Gupta had acquired property and wealth through illegal means, including benami transactions, misuse of official position, concealment of the source of funds and irregularities in land purchases.
According to the FIR, the allegations were examined by the Police Headquarters and found to be “incorrect, legally untenable, unsupported by documentary evidence, and based on assumptions and conjectures”. It states that no prima facie evidence of a cognisable offence was found.
Gupta has alleged that Sharma knowingly levelled false accusations to damage his personal and professional reputation and undermine public confidence in a constitutional office.
The FIR notes that Gupta denied allegations of concealing a land transaction or acquiring benami property, claiming that all disclosures required under the All India Services (Conduct) Rules had been made within the prescribed timelines. It further states that details of the land purchase were submitted to the competent authority on July 5, 2025, acknowledged by the government on July 10, 2025, and followed by a post-transaction intimation on July 31, 2025.
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The former Chief Secretary has also rejected allegations that he misused his position, arguing that the land transaction took place in July 2025 while he assumed charge as Chief Secretary only on October 1, 2025.
The FIR further states that Gupta maintained the funds used for the land purchase were lawful and fully documented. It also alleges that Sharma, being a practising advocate, relied on legal provisions that were either inapplicable or incorrectly interpreted to give a criminal colour to allegations lacking factual basis.
Responding to the FIR, Sharma alleged that the action was politically motivated and intended to discourage him from pursuing legal action against Gupta.
“Nobody contacted me regarding the FIR. I was not called even once to record my statement in support of my allegations,” Sharma said.
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He added that he had filed a public interest litigation in the Himachal Pradesh High Court concerning alleged violations of Section 118 of the Himachal Pradesh Land Reforms and Tenancy Act, 1972, in connection with the Chester Hills housing project in Solan district.
On March 31, Gupta had alleged that a section of former bureaucrats was conspiring to tarnish his reputation to prevent an extension of his post-retirement tenure. Three days after his retirement, Gupta was appointed Chairman of the Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission.
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