‘Rs 11L apple boxes’: Former Himachal Rera chief faces vigilance probe

Shimla: Himachal Pradesh chief secretary Sanjay Gupta has directed the state vigilance and anti-corruption bureau to probe alleged financial irregularities during the tenure of Himachal Pradesh Real Estate Regulatory Authority (Rera) chairman Shrikant Baldi.Baldi, a 1985-batch IAS officer and former chief secretary, joined as the first chairperson of Himachal Rera on Jan 1, 2020, a day after his retirement. His term ended on Dec 12, 2024.Among the major allegations is expenditure of more than Rs 11 lakh from Rera funds on gifting apple boxes to officials and acquaintances in Rajasthan — Baldi's home state — and other parts of the country.Responding to this, Baldi told TOI that all expenditures were within his financial authority. "During those five years, I gifted 40-42 apple boxes per year from HPMC, costing nearly Rs 2,000 each, to senior officers in other states who helped the state and the Rera. There is nothing wrong in it," he said.The chief secretary has asked the bureau "to inquire as to when sumptuary allowance was provided to Rera chairman, and how has he spent money on apples from Rera funds?"The inquiry was initiated following a written complaint alleging misuse of govt funds.The complainant has alleged despite an initial complaint over a year ago, the housing department took no action. He claimed the matter remained pending at the level of the principal secretary (housing).According to the complaint, a Rera member reportedly wrote to the state govt in Sept 2025 defending the apple gifts on the ground that "such gestures facilitated better understanding and coordination regarding Rera-related issues". The complainant termed the justification "untenable," stating no other Rera authority follows such practices. "It is further understood that the member, who allegedly justified the expenditure, has since demitted office and joined another autonomous body," said the complaint.The complaint further alleged farewell functions for retiring officers in Rera during Baldi's tenure at govt expense. "A retirement dinner for Rera member B C Badalia on July 5, 2024, at Hotel Holiday Home reportedly cost around Rs 70,000, while another function upon Baldi's retirement on Dec 11, 2024, allegedly involved expenditure of approximately Rs 65,000, including hospitality arrangements and hard drinks. These bills were ‘adjusted in the food bill,'" said the complaint.Baldi defended the expense, saying, "Every department does this, and there were only Rera officials at the party."Further allegations include a claim that Baldi sought nearly Rs 1 lakh reimbursement for Panchakarma treatment for himself and his wife in Kerala following an official meeting in Nov 2022. Baldi has flatly denied making this claim.Regarding the allegation that Rera footed a Rs 30,000 bill for Badalia to attend an official conference in Tamil Nadu after his retirement on July 17 and 18, 2024, Baldi justified the approval, explaining the travel was linked to an official Rera committee presentation.MSID:: 131328327 413 |