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Hotelier son of Himachal CM’s aide ‘escapes’ abduction bid, 5 held

Naresh Chauhan, whose son the alleged abductors targeted, says the incident surprised him. Two of the accused have previous FIRs against them

4 min readShimlaMar 28, 2026 07:00 AM IST

Shimla, Himachal Pradesh Police, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, son of Himachal CM aide escapes abduction bid, son of sukhu aide escapes abduction bid, Indian express news, current affairs

Charanjit’s family, which lives in Sanjauli main bazaar in Shimla, said he only sold the car alleged to have been used by the accused. “Police have told me my husband was not involved in the kidnapping attempt but only changed the numberplate,” said his wife.

The Himachal Pradesh Police claims to have cracked an alleged attempt to abduct Aryan Chauhan, the general secretary of the state Youth Congress and the son of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu’s close aide Naresh Chauhan, with the arrest of five.

In one of the most high-profile such incidents in recent years in the state, a group of men allegedly tried to abduct Aryan, 35, while he was returning from his hotel in Mashobra on March 20. Aryan said the men threatened him with a gun, and that he escaped by jumping out of his car, suffering injuries in the process.

Naresh Chauhan, who has been close to Sukhu since his college days, is the Principal Media Advisor to the CM. He enjoyed Cabinet rank till recently, when Sukhu withdrew the same for all such posts, as an austerity measure amidst strained finances.

The five people arrested by police include alleged mastermind Manish Verma, 46, a contractor-cum-property dealer; former Himachal police constable Tashi Cheering Negi, 45; motor mechanic Charanjeet Singh, 48; Rajinder Kumar, 42; and Manmohan Chauhan, 36. All five live in and around Shimla.

Police have shown the recovery of an airgun, 10 live cartridges of 12 bore, an Alto with a fake registration numberplate, and some mobile devices. They said their probe had also led them to a Home Stay in the periphery of Shimla where the suspects allegedly planned to keep Aryan hostage as they bargained for ransom.

While Charanjeet and Negi were arrested on March 23, Verma was held on March 25. Sources said that Verma and Negi have told police that they have known Aryan and Neeraj “for a long time”. “But these facts are yet to be verified,” an official said.

Aryan said a group of men had intercepted his car as he drove back home from Mashobra, and threatened to abduct and rob him, using “blunt weapons”, including “a pistol-like object”. He said he managed to escape, sustaining injuries to his leg when he jumped out of the car.

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Police allege that they found the hatchback abandoned, and recovered the airgun and live cartridges from Verma. Charanjeet is alleged to have given the car a new paint, and tampered with its numberplate and chassis number.

“So far, the involvement of none other than the five has come to light,” Shimla Superintendent of Police (SP) Gaurav Singh told The Indian Express.

Singh added that Verma had told them the cartridges belonged to his father’s licensed rifle. “He claimed that the rifle had been deposited at the local police station in Theog, under which his native village falls, but we have to verify this. If the rifle was deposited, why not the cartridges?”

Verma and Negi have previous cases against them, and police said they were trying to find out the status of those. While Verma’s list of criminal cases include charges over alleged possession of 830 gm of charas, two thefts of forest timber, and abduction, confinement and assault, Negi was booked in 2010 under Sections related to wrongful restraint, assault, and unlawful assembly.

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Sources said Negi, who had been posted in Shimla, also faced disciplinary issues when in the police service, which is why he took voluntary retirement.

Defense counsel Balwant Guleria and D N Thakur said their clients were cooperating with police.

While Aryan could not be reached, Naresh Chauhan said he was “surprised” that there was an abduction bid targeting his son. “If the suspects say they know me, it could be because I have been in politics for such a long time. Many people know me.”

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A senior Congress leader of Shimla, Chauhan was handpicked by Sukhu as his Principal Media Adviser soon after he took oath as CM in 2022. Chauhan has interests in real estate and hotel industry, and has been vice-president of the Himachal Congress.

Saurabh Parashar

Saurabh Parashar is an Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, primarily responsible for the publication’s coverage of Himachal Pradesh. He is a seasoned journalist with over 17 years of experience in print media, specializing in crime, legal affairs, and investigative reporting. Professional Background Education: He holds a Master’s degree in Mass Communication from Guru Jambheshwar University of Science & Technology (Hisar) and a Law degree from Himachal Pradesh University (HPU), Shimla. This legal background significantly informs his reporting on complex judicial and administrative matters. Career Path: Before joining The Indian Express in 2017, he spent 12 years with The Times of India. Core Beats: His primary focus is the socio-political landscape of the hill state, with a specific emphasis on the environment, forest conservation, drug menace (specifically "Chitta"), affairs related to tribal and archaeology and the unique challenges of governance in high-altitude regions. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His recent reporting highlights the critical intersection of policy, law, and social safety in Himachal Pradesh: 1. "Himachal’s battle against Chitta: Why the border areas are most vulnerable" (Late 2025): An investigative look at the transit routes from Punjab and the impact on local youth. 2. "Shimla ropeway clears key hurdle as 820 trees face the axe :According to the Forest Survey of India’s 2021 assessment, 47.21 percent of Shimla’s 5,131 sq km geographical area is under forest cover (Nov 17, 2025). 3. "Himachal to handover 2.7427 ha of non-forest land for Shimla Ropeway: Given the land’s non-forest nature, RTDC and the state will not require permission from MoEFCC" (Nov 18, 2025) 4. "How the centuries-old Jodidara tradition is fading in Himachal’s Trans-Giri region: Jodidara: a form of fraternal polyandry—has long been part of Hatti tribal culture in the Trans-Giri region of Himachal Pradesh and adjoining Uttarakhand. It is believed to have evolved to prevent division of ancestral land and maintain unity among brothers in the harsh, mountainous terrain" (Aug 18, 2025) Legal & Agricultural Affairs "Kisan Sabha hails SC’s setting aside Himachal HC order to remove orchards from forest land" (Dec 18, 2025): Covering a major Supreme Court victory for farmers, where a High Court order to remove fruit-bearing apple orchards was overturned. "Himachal Cabinet nod to new tourism policy; focus on home-stays in tribal areas" (Dec 11, 2025): Detailing the legislative push to decentralize tourism and bring economic benefits to Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur. 3. Governance & Environment "Forest rights and development: Why Himachal is seeking more leeway from Centre" (Dec 19, 2025): Reporting on the legal hurdles faced by the state in infrastructure projects due to the Forest Conservation Act. "Cloudbursts and resilience: How Himachal’s remote villages are building back better" (Nov 2025): Following up on the long-term rehabilitation efforts after monsoon-related disasters. Crime especially cyber crimes, crypto currency etc: crypto currency: "Agents in uniform, motivational speeches, lavish parties: How a Himachal crypto con went unnoticed:A serial conman, a ‘Nelson Mandela Nobel Peace Award winner', and retired policemen got together to pull off a Rs 1,740-crore fraud" (Nov 10, 2023) Signature Beats Saurabh is recognized for his tenacious reporting on the state's drug epidemic. His deep familiarity with the topography and tribal culture of Himachal allows him to report from remote locations like Spiti, Pangi, Shillai, which are often overlooked by national media. His legal expertise makes him a primary choice for covering the Himachal Pradesh High Court on issues ranging from local body elections to environmental PILs. X (Twitter): @saurabh_prashar . ... Read More

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