With the state government now distancing itself from the affair, it must be hoped that the CID will finally close the case. Because far from a crime being committed, one was actually averted — the crime of wasting perfectly good samosas.
In the long list of crimes involving the samosa — samosa manchurian, chocolate samosa pav, to name two — where does the one involving a chief minister’s visit and three boxes of misdirected deep-fried goodies figure? The Case of the Vanishing Samosas reportedly threw the Himachal Pradesh authorities into a tizzy. On October 21, when CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu went to the state CID headquarters to inaugurate a cyber wing station, samosas, along with cake, were ordered. Through a curious chain of events, they ended up being served to the CM’s security staff instead.
No story of a crime — regardless of how trivial the malfeasance may be — is complete without a twist. Here, it turns out, the disappearance of the snacks, characterised by the embarrassed hosts as an “anti-government act”, actually ended up doing the honourable guest a favour: Following a recent illness, CM Sukhu has been barred from indulging in deep-fried foods. Yet, the high-handedness of the investigators was not stayed by the fact that whoever was responsible for the snacks going astray may have helped the CM stick to his healthy diet. Five police personnel have been served with show-cause notices.
With the state government now distancing itself from the affair, it must be hoped that the CID will finally close the case. Because far from a crime being committed, one was actually averted — the crime of wasting perfectly good samosas. The destiny of food is only fulfilled when it is enjoyed by someone, whether that be a prince or a peon. If the CM couldn’t eat the samosas, at least someone else has had their fill.
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
First uploaded on: 09-11-2024 at 04:00 IST
