Shimla: Now in the news due to his differences with IPS officer and Baddi Superintendent of Police Ilma Afroz, Doon’s Congress MLA Ram Kumar Chaudhary has had a political career chequered by controversies that have time and again made the headlines.
Baddi SP Ilma Afroz went on leave earlier this month after vacating her official residence amid reports of tensions with Chaudhary. During a crackdown on illegal sand mining in the Baddi-Doon area, she had fined vehicles belonging to the MLA’s wife, Kuldeep Kaur. Chaudhary has denied any involvement in sending Afroz on leave.
Since she joined Baddi as SP in January this year, Afroz has clashed with Chaudhary. Early on, Ramkishan, a scrap dealer with ties to Chaudhary, allegedly staged an attack on himself to pressure the police into granting him protection. Undeterred by political pressure around the case, Afroz pursued it diligently, escalating tensions with Chaudhary.
Then, in September, Chaudhary moved a privilege motion against Afroz in the Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha, accusing her of spying on him and coercing his driver for statements against him. The privilege committee is still considering the motion.
Explaining how it all started, a senior government official told ThePrint on the condition of anonymity, “When she joined the district, she was advised to see a ‘madam’ for a smooth tenure.”
Rubbishing all the accusations, Chaudhary—a two-time legislator from the Congress stronghold of Doon—told the media on 13 November that he has no dispute with anyone.
“SP Madam has gone on leave; it is not a transfer. I have no role in it. All this is a ploy by the Opposition to tarnish my image. I have no power to send anyone on leave. I have leased out my crushers and commercial vehicles,” said Chaudhary, who held the chief parliamentary secretary (CPS) post till a few days ago.
This controversy is yet another bump in Chaudhary’s tumultuous political career. From his involvement in the 2012 Jyoti murder case to the ongoing tensions over illegal mining, Chaudhary’s political journey has been marked by legal battles, accusations, and a deeply intertwined business-politics nexus.
Political legacy & family business
At 55, Chaudhary is a significant figure in Himachal’s political scene, having secured his place as Doon MLA in the 2012 and then the 2022 election.
The seat has, historically, been a Congress stronghold, with the party holding it from 1967-2007. Chaudhary’s father, Lajja Ram, represented Doon multiple times in that period.
BJP’s Vinod Kumari Chandel won the seat in 2007, but Chaudhary defeated Chandel and reclaimed Doon for Congress in 2012. BJP’s Paramjeet Singh secured the seat in the 2017 election, but Chaudhary regained his position as Doon MLA in the 2022 election.
Chaudhary’s close ties with Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, who appointed him as chief parliamentary secretary in 2022, has further solidified his political rise.
However, his political success remains embroiled in controversies.
Chaudhary’s family, his wife in particular, has been involved in the crusher and mining industries in the Badli-Doon area. According to a 2022 affidavit filed with the election commission, the couple owns a large fleet of commercial vehicles.
The Income Tax Department demanded Rs 23.04 lakh in taxes from Chaudhary’s wife for the 2022-23 financial year—a development that has added to the couple’s political scrutiny.
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Jyoti murder & clashes with authorities
Chaudhary’s name first came to national attention in the 2012 Jyoti murder case, which would haunt him for years.
Jyoti, a 24-year-old woman from Punjab’s Hoshiarpur, was found dead in Haryan’s Panchkula during the election period. A visiting card with Chaudhary’s name was discovered in her possession, with her father accusing him of involvement in her murder.
The case escalated when Chaudhary absconded during the investigation on 20 December 2012—the day of his first election victory from Doon. However, he surrendered later in January 2013 and, after a lengthy trial, was acquitted in 2014. Despite his legal victory, the controversy led to his expulsion from the Congress party by then-state president Sukhu.
Chaudhary’s relationship with law enforcement has been rocky. In 2016, his clash with IPS officer Gaurav Singh, who, at the time, was leading a crackdown on illegal mining, made headlines.
Singh fined a vehicle owned by Chaudhary’s wife for allegedly transporting illegally mined material, triggering a public dispute. Chaudhary lobbied for Singh’s transfer, which ultimately happened.
The incident sparked a public outcry, with activists challenging the transfer in court.
Control over Baddi & political tensions
A part of the Doon constituency, Himachal’s Baddi region holds significant economic and political weight due to its thriving mining and scrap industries.
Local law enforcement and political figures have pointed to the area’s need for political patronage to operate these industries effectively. Chaudhary’s family has held considerable influence in Baddi due to their involvement in mining, the truck operator union, and the scrap business.
His brother, Harbhajan Singh Chaudhary, serves as the president of the local truck union, further cementing the family’s dominance in the area.
Recent reports suggest that Chaudhary has been at odds with Industry Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan, particularly over political interference in Baddi and Nalagarh.
(Edited by Madhurita Goswami)
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