The incident involving Himachal Pradesh's Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh and two National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) engineers has escalated into a significant controversy, drawing strong condemnation from Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, who is seeking accountability for the alleged assault and demanding action for any inaction by local authorities.
On Monday, July 1, 2025, Anirudh Singh was booked for allegedly assaulting and threatening Achal Jindal, an NHAI manager, and Yogesh Verma, a site engineer, in Shimla. The incident occurred shortly after a multi-story building collapsed in Chamyana, reportedly due to ongoing four-lane construction work. Jindal and Verma had been called to the site by Shimla's Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) to review the collapse. However, upon arrival, they encountered Minister Singh, along with other officials and local residents.
According to the FIR filed by Jindal, the minister took him and Verma to a nearby room and began assaulting them. Jindal alleged that Singh struck him on the head with an earthen pot filled with water, causing bleeding. When Verma tried to intervene, he was also attacked. The two men managed to escape and were admitted to Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital (IGMC) in Shimla for treatment. Jindal sustained serious injuries, including multiple head wounds requiring stitches.
In response to the alleged assault, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari expressed strong condemnation, describing the incident as "deeply reprehensible and an affront to the rule of law". Gadkari emphasized that such brutality against a government officer not only threatens individual safety but also undermines the integrity of public institutions. He conveyed his concerns to Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, urging immediate and exemplary action against all perpetrators. Gadkari also stressed that accountability must prevail and justice must be delivered without delay.
Gadkari also sought fixing responsibility for inaction on the part of administrative and police officials. He noted that the alleged assault occurred in the presence of the SDM and police officials, and their failure to intervene and protect the NHAI officers or provide immediate medical assistance further compounded the gravity of the incident. Gadkari cautioned that continued inaction may prompt the Ministry to reassess ongoing and future projects in the state.
The incident has sparked a political uproar, with opposition leaders calling for Minister Anirudh Singh's resignation. Leader of Opposition and former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur stated that the BJP condemns the attack and demanded that Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu remove Anirudh Singh from his Cabinet. The NHAI Engineers Association has also strongly condemned the assault, demanding immediate and exemplary action against the minister and others involved. They described the attack as a terrible and unacceptable act against a public servant.
Police have registered an FIR against Anirudh Singh under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including those related to assaulting a public servant, voluntarily causing hurt, intentional insult, wrongful restraint, and common intention. However, there have been concerns raised by the opposition BJP and the NHAI Engineers' Association that the FIR invokes weak sections of the BNS and that the government is attempting to suppress the case.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has assured Union Minister Nitin Gadkari that the state government will take action as per law. The investigation into the incident is ongoing, and medical reports of the injured NHAI officials are awaited.
