Shimla, May 23, 2025:
In a scathing rebuke to the Special Investigation Team (SIT), the High Court has slammed the ongoing probe into the suspicious death of senior HPPCL officer Vimal Negi, calling the investigation lacklustre and blind to the bigger conspiracy.
The court said that despite damning revelations by multiple witnesses, the SIT has failed to probe how top officials allegedly coerced Negi to favour a private contractor.
The case revolves around the Pekhubella Solar Power Project in Hamirpur, where senior HPPCL officials allegedly pressured Negi to manipulate project timelines and revenue projections in favour of M/s Prozeal Infra Engineering Pvt Ltd.
According to the inquiry report submitted by the Additional Chief Secretary (Home), multiple employees, including PW-20 Manish Chaudhary (DGM, Electrical), testified that Negi and he were pressured by Shri Desh Raj, Director (Electrical), to reduce the assessed delay of the contractor from 45 to 23 days.
Chaudhary alleged that Desh Raj even threatened them with consequences, saying “Aap problem mein aa jaoge.”
Another explosive revelation came from PW-5 Rajnish Katoch, Senior Manager at HPPCL, who said Desh Raj forced Negi to inflate the project’s revenue estimates from ₹19 crore to ₹25 crore just before the Vidhan Sabha session.
Similar claims were made by PW-15 Bipan Guleria, who alleged Negi was pushed to clear a 10% project payment to Prozeal even though mandatory Board approvals were pending.
Guleria’s notings show how Desh Raj bypassed protocol and tried to release payments prematurely—raising serious questions about collusion and corruption at the top.
“Systemic Pressure” Led to Negi’s Death?
Negi, who served as General Manager (Electrical), was later found dead under mysterious circumstances between March 13 and 14, 2025. While his family suspected foul play from day one, the SIT, formed on March 19, has so far failed to unearth key evidence.
The court questioned why the SIT did not investigate what happened between March 10–13, the critical days leading up to Negi’s death. It also expressed shock that the SIT’s affidavit merely described the accused’s conduct as “improper behaviour” without probing the financial pressure and mental harassment angle.
"Had the SIT been prudent enough to investigate this from the perspective of the officers' testimonies and the deceased’s family, the petitioner wouldn't have needed to knock on our doors," observed the court.
To make matters worse, the court was informed that a pen drive found on Negi's body—reportedly containing crucial evidence—was tampered with, and the Superintendent of Police (Shimla) allegedly withheld documents even from the Director General of Police.
Deep-rooted Nexus?
The court hinted at a "deep-rooted conspiracy" involving Director (Electrical) Desh Raj and Managing Director Harikesh Meena, IAS, and called for a detailed probe by an expert agency. The inquiry report accuses both of bypassing rules, exerting mental pressure on employees, and favouring the private firm in violation of official procedures.
"There is enough material to suggest mental harassment not just of the deceased but of other HPPCL officials as well during the tenure of Desh Raj and Harikesh Meena," the report noted.
Yet, despite the evidence, the SIT appears more interested in painting Negi as mentally unstable. The court was visibly upset over the SIT’s reliance on a psychiatric evaluation to attribute his death to “psychological stress,” without linking it back to the work environment or coercive actions of his superiors.
What Next?
With damning statements, botched evidence handling, and accused officials allegedly manipulating the system, the court has clearly indicated that the case needs a fresh, unbiased investigation by a professional agency.
It also underscored that whistleblowers within HPPCL deserve protection, and the family of late Vimal Negi deserves justice.
Stay tuned to Himbumail.com for more exclusive updates on the unfolding solar power scandal.
