Solan, August 2: The reputation of the Himachal Pradesh Police took a hit after a video surfaced showing four uniformed officers—including a Sub-Inspector and three constables—collecting a crate of liquor from a shop in Chandigarh while on duty. The incident, caught on camera, quickly spread across social media and reached senior police officials.
The video clearly shows the officers, in uniform and traveling in an official police vehicle, picking up the liquor crate and driving away. What has raised further alarm is that these officers were in Chandigarh on official duty as part of the Chief Minister’s protocol team, meaning they were not only in uniform but also using government resources at the time.
Upon receiving the video, Superintendent of Police Gaurav Singh directed a subordinate officer to analyze the footage. Once the content was verified, immediate action followed—one Sub-Inspector and three constables were suspended with immediate effect. The matter has also been reported to the Commandant of the 6th IRB Battalion, Dhaulakuan, from which two of the involved officers hail.
Initial information suggests the liquor crate was loaded into the same vehicle that had been officially assigned for duty. Of the four personnel involved, two are from Solan, while the Sub-Inspector and one constable belong to the 6th IRB Battalion, Dhaulakuan.
The incident raises serious questions—while an ordinary citizen cannot legally travel with more than two bottles of alcohol without a license, these uniformed officers were seen openly transporting an entire crate.
Although Chandigarh’s lower liquor prices often lead to such cross-border activities, it becomes deeply problematic when the very custodians of the law are seen violating it. It remains unclear whether the liquor was purchased legally or not, but the gravity of the act is unquestionable, and the incident is unlikely to remain confined to an internal departmental inquiry.
Confirming the incident, SP Gaurav Singh stated that the suspensions were based on the preliminary findings from the video. He added that a full departmental investigation is underway and strict action will follow if further violations come to light.
