Theft at Himachal CM Virbhadra Singh’s ancestral palace

Unidentified men broke into Himachal Pradesh chief minister Virbhadra Singh’s Shantikunj Palace at Sarahan, 170km from here, on the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday.

The thieves broke in through the main gate and decamped with 3kg silver, including one silver-made table lamp of 1kg, four silver flower pot each weighing 250g and one readymade silver-made temple of 1kg.

The matter came into light when caretaker Prem Raj found the main door of Shantikunj Palace, other room open at 6.30am. He immediately informed the police and Shimla police on its blog informed that a case has been registered under 457 (house-breaking by night) and 380 (Theft in dwelling house) of Indian Penal Code.

A police official said only items from the temple, which was adjoining to the bedroom, were stolen, while no other things have been touched.

“Preliminary probe suggests that the thieves were familiar with the palace as they directly went to the temple and decamped with silver items,” he said, requesting anonymity.

Meanwhile, additional DGP (law and order) Sanjay Kundu has gone to investigate the burglary at CM’s palace.

Incident gives fodder to BJP

Already under attack for alleged corruption, theft at Singh’s ancestral palace gave fodder to opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Satpal Singh Satti.

In a statement issued on Sunday, he hit out at the state government for deteriorating law and order situation. “Even chief minister’s house is not safe, what could be said about other place,” he said.

Satti also blamed Singh’s frequent Delhi visits for such situation. “Singh is going to Delhi frequently and there is nobody to control the administration,” he said. The entire government is focused on managing Virbhadra’s cases, while none has interest on issues of common public including law and order.

“Chief Minister may order probe into this case, but the question is that even CM’s house is not safe,” he added.