https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Himachal CS Prabodh Saxena Hosts ₹1.22 Lakh Holi Party, Sends Bill to Govt, Sparks Controversy in Debt-Ridden State

After Extension, CS Prabodh Saxena in Spotlight Again - ₹1.22 Lakh Lunch Party Sparks Political Heat.
Indian Masterminds Stories

As Himachal Pradesh continues to contend with a growing debt of over ₹1 lakh crore, the state’s Chief Secretary, Prabodh Saxena, an IAS officer of 1990 batch, has raised eyebrows with a ₹1.22 lakh bill submitted for a Holi party hosted at the state-run Hotel Holiday Home in Shimla. The gathering, which took place on March 14, included 77 IAS officers and their families, with meals and other expenses coming to a total that has now attracted public attention.

The Chief Secretary’s six-month extension, granted by the Central Personnel Department just ahead of his scheduled retirement, has also fueled concerns. As the state grapples with its financial challenges, questions have emerged about the appropriateness of such a lavish event amid ongoing fiscal pressures.

Ahead of his planned retirement on March 31, Mr Saxena hosted a Holi celebration on March 14 for IAS officers and their families at Shimla’s state-run Hotel Holiday Home. But what raised eyebrows wasn’t the festive spirit – it was the ₹1.22 lakh bill he later sent to the General Administration Department (GAD) for payment.

The detailed breakdown

  • 77 meals for IAS officers and their families at ₹1,000 per person
  • 22 meals for drivers at ₹585 each
  • ₹11,800 in taxi charges
  • ₹22,350 in taxes and miscellaneous charges

What’s more, Mr Saxena’s farewell turned into an extended stay. In a surprising first for the state, he received a six-month extension and will now serve as Chief Secretary until September 30, 2025 – marking the first such extension ever granted in Himachal.

When asked whether the Holi lunch was an official or personal event, GAD Secretary Rajesh Sharma deflected the query, saying, “You need to ask the chief secretary only.” As for who foots the bill? Sharma said it would depend on the “final authority’s directions.”

The controversy has caught political fire, with oposition slamming the state government for “indifference to the suffering of the common people” and demanding an impartial probe and disciplinary action.

This isn’t Saxena’s first brush with controversy. His name previously surfaced in the INX Media case – a high-profile money laundering investigation involving former Union Minister P. Chidambaram. Saxena, then a senior finance ministry official, was named in the Enforcement Directorate’s chargesheet over alleged irregularities in FIPB clearances.

As Himachal Pradesh tightens its belt, the state’s highest-ranking bureaucrat may need to explain why his lunch bill doesn’t sit well with the public.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
SBI_resized
Public Sector Banks Dismiss Rumours of ATM Shutdown, Confirm Full Operational Status
PetrolPump
Amid War Fears, Viral Images of Fuel Queues Spark Panic; Oil PSUs Assure Ample Supply
Ambala Blackout
Amid War Threat, Ambala DM Imposes 10-Hour Nightly Blackout to Avert Drone Strikes - Check Order Here
SBI_resized
SBI to Sell 13.19% Stake in Yes Bank to Japan’s SMBC for ₹8,889 Crore
IRS Gangadhar Panda
Gangadhar Panda Appointed as Principal CIT (OSD) in Principal CCIT Office, Delhi- Know more about him
NHPCMoU
NHPC Signs MoU with RVUNL to Develop 2,000 MW Pumped Storage and Renewable Energy Projects in Rajasthan
Ministry of Coal (resized)
Centre Signs Agreements with key Players to Accelerate Coal Gasification Projects
Indian Army Chief
Rule 33 Invoked: Centre Grants Army Chief Sweeping Powers to Mobilise 14 Territorial Army Battalions Amid Border Escalation
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IPS Sandeep Tamgadge
IPS Sandeep Tamgadge’s Two Decades of Service in Nagaland
IMG-20250429-WA0019
How Mission IAS is Transforming Dreams of Underprivileged UPSC Aspirants
Aakash Garg
Computer Engineer Aakash Garg Takes AIR-5 in UPSC CSE 2024 Through Sheer Discipline And Hard Work | Exclusive
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
iqbal-ahmad-upsc-2024
From Cycle Repair Shop to UPSC Rank 998: UP's Iqabal Ahmad’s Inspiring Journey Against All Odds
Iqbal Ahmad, son of a handyman from Sant Kabir Nagar, secured 998th rank in UPSC 2024, fulfilling his...
IPS Sandeep Tamgadge
IPS Sandeep Tamgadge’s Two Decades of Service in Nagaland
For over 20 years, IPS officer Sandeep Tamgadge has served Nagaland, navigating its unique cultural landscape...
Shubham Kaurav UPSC
Four Attempts, One Dream: How Shubham Kaurav Cracked UPSC CSE with AIR 291
With determination, self-study, and a strategic mindset, Gwalior’s Shubham Kaurav turned years of hard...
Social Media
Fakenews
Be Aware: Fake Videos and Propaganda Cloud Public Discourse After India’s Cross-Border Strike
In the aftermath of Operation Sindoor, numerous false and doctored videos claiming to show the strikes...
Indore Road Safety Campaign by Air Hostesses
The Cleanest of India, Indore, Launches Inclusive Road Safety Campaign Featuring Air Hostesses - Know More!
In a unique civic initiative, Indore Traffic Police deployed air hostesses using sign language at key...
Shakti Dubey AIR 1
UPSC Rank 1 Shakti Dubey's Success Sparks Debate on Civil Services Examination System, Ex-IPS Officer Raises Questions
Shakti Dubey’s UPSC Rank 1 success has sparked debate after ex-IPS officer Yashovardhan Azad questioned...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
Chiefs of Armed Forces
National Security Reinforced by India’s Tri-Force Commanders | Operation Sindoor
SBI_resized
Public Sector Banks Dismiss Rumours of ATM Shutdown, Confirm Full Operational Status
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IPS Sandeep Tamgadge
IMG-20250429-WA0019
Aakash Garg
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT