Gadkari Condemns Assault On NHAI Officer By Himachal Minister: 'Deeply Reprehensible'

Last Updated:July 01, 2025, 16:10 IST

Nitin Gadkari took "serious cognisance" of the matter and said that he had spoken with Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu regarding the same

Union minister for road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari. (File pic/PTI)

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday condemned the “heinous assault" on a National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) officer, allegedly carried out by Himachal Pradesh Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh Rana, calling the incident “deeply reprehensible".

Achal Jindal complained that he had been assaulted on Monday during a site inspection where a five-storey residential building had collapsed in the Bhattakuffar area of Shimla.

“The heinous assault on Shri Achal Jindal, Manager, NHAI PIU Shimla, allegedly by the Minister of Panchayati Raj, Himachal Pradesh, and his associates, is deeply reprehensible and an affront to the rule of law. Such a brutal attack on a public servant performing his official duties not only endangers individual safety but also erodes institutional integrity," said Gadkari in an X post.

He further took “serious cognisance" of the matter and said that he had spoken with Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, “urging immediate and exemplary action against all perpetrators."

“Accountability must prevail, and justice must be delivered without delay," he added.

BJP leader Anurag Thakur, who is also a Member of Parliament from the Hamirpur seat in Himachal Pradesh, also condemned the incident, saying that government officials are feeling unsafe in the state under the current Congress-led government’s regime.

“Is there even a government in Himachal Pradesh?" Thakur asked, reacting strongly to the assault on an NHAI official.

“When government officials are being beaten up and no action is taken, how can they feel safe? The Chief Minister must take strict and immediate action against those responsible."

Dhalli Police Station House Officer (SHO) Virochan Negi said that a First Information Report (FIR) has been filed against the minister under Sections 132, 121(1), 352, 126(2), and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

The complaint was lodged by Jindal, who serves as the manager (technical) at the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) in Shimla.

These sections pertain to offences involving assault or use of criminal force against a public servant with the intent to obstruct them from performing their official duties. The alleged incident took place on Monday, according to Jindal’s complaint.

Ronit Singh

Ronit Singh, Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com, works with the India and Breaking News team. He has a keen focus on Indian politics and aims to cover unexplored angles. Ronit is an alumnus of Christ (Deemed to be...Read More

Ronit Singh, Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com, works with the India and Breaking News team. He has a keen focus on Indian politics and aims to cover unexplored angles. Ronit is an alumnus of Christ (Deemed to be...

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Himachal Pradesh, India, India

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