Himachal Minister Faces FIR over NHAI Official Assault Allegations

Himachal Pradesh Minister Anirudh Singh is accused of attacking an NHAI official during a site visit, leading to an FIR. The incident, which occurred amid a building collapse inspection in Shimla, has prompted calls for justice from the Central Engineering Services Officers' Association.

An FIR has been lodged against Himachal Pradesh's Panchayati Raj and Rural Development Minister Anirudh Singh following accusations of physically assaulting a National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) official during an inspection in Shimla district, confirmed police sources on Tuesday.

The complaint, filed by Achal Jindal, NHAI's Manager (Technical), alleges that Singh assaulted him and verbally abused him in the Bhattakufer area on Monday after a five-storey building collapse, necessitating a combined inspection involving local residents, the minister, and Shimla Rural SDM Manjeet Sharma.

According to reports, Singh allegedly struck Jindal on the head with a water container at a local residence, resulting in significant head injuries, and purportedly attacked another NHAI engineer, Yogesh, during an intervention attempt. The Dhalli police station officially registered the case under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and authorities have launched a formal probe into the allegations.

(With inputs from agencies.)