CBI Joins the Scene: High Court Slams State, Takes Over Vimal Negi Death Probe
Shimla: After months of silence, speculation, and a sloppy investigation, the Himachal Pradesh High Court finally cracked the whip on Friday.
It handed over the mysterious death case of Vimal Negi—Chief Engineer of Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited—to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), ripping apart the state’s “cover-up” narrative.
Negi had gone missing from his Shimla office on March 10. His lifeless body surfaced in the Gobind Sagar Lake on March 18. But instead of answers, the probe only threw up contradictions—vanishing evidence, botched digital data, and shifting police statements.
His wife, Kiran Negi, refused to buy the suicide theory pushed by police. She knocked on the High Court’s doors, claiming harassment by senior officials, pressure at work, and a cover-up attempt by the system.
The court agreed—slamming the state machinery and calling out the “conflicting and unclear” investigation.
What truly blew the lid off? A pen drive recovered from Negi’s body, which cops initially claimed had “nothing”.
But later, nearly 14,000 pages of data were retrieved—pointing to tampering, mishandling, and possibly destruction of crucial evidence.
The SIT too couldn’t maintain a straight line of facts. One constable allegedly erased data, while higher-ups looked the other way.
As public anger grew and opposition BJP raised its pitch, the government kept shuffling files—transferring officers instead of suspending them.
“This isn’t just about a suspicious death. It’s about a complete breakdown of accountability in the state’s power corridors,” a senior advocate remarked after the hearing.
The Onkar Chand Sharma Committee has submitted its findings to the Himachal Pradesh High Court in a sealed cover.
In a major twist, sources reveal that the pen drive containing crucial evidence was allegedly concealed from DGP Atul Verma, creating a clear rift between him and SP Shimla over the handling of the case.
Solar Power Scandal or Deep-Seated Corruption?
High Court Slams SIT Over Sloppy Probe into HPPCL Officer’s
The Himachal Pradesh High Court has sharply criticized the Special Investigation Team (SIT) for its shoddy investigation into the mysterious death of senior Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (HPPCL) officer, Vimal Negi.
The court expressed serious concerns that the SIT’s probe has overlooked critical evidence and failed to investigate the alleged high-level pressure and corruption that may have contributed to Negi’s tragic demise.
At the center of the controversy is the Pekhubella Solar Power Project in Hamirpur, where multiple testimonies suggest that senior HPPCL officials, including Director (Electrical) Desh Raj, coerced Negi into manipulating project timelines and inflating revenue figures to benefit a private contractor, M/s Prozeal Infra Engineering Pvt Ltd.
According to the report submitted by the Additional Chief Secretary (Home), employees like Manish Chaudhary (DGM, Electrical) revealed that Desh Raj forced them to reduce the contractor’s assessed delay from 45 to 23 days, even issuing veiled threats warning, “Aap problem mein aa jaoge.”
Another witness, Rajnish Katoch, senior manager at HPPCL, alleged that Desh Raj pressured Negi to inflate revenue estimates just before the state assembly session. Further claims by Bipan Guleria pointed to attempts to release payments prematurely without board approvals—raising red flags of collusion.
Court Questions SIT’s Narrow Focus
Negi, who held the post of General Manager (Electrical), was found dead under suspicious circumstances between March 13 and 14, 2025. His family immediately suspected foul play. However, the SIT, formed six days after his disappearance, has so far failed to probe crucial days leading to his death or explore allegations of mental harassment and financial coercion.
The court slammed the SIT’s affidavit, which labeled the accused’s behavior as merely “improper” and ignored the pressures faced by Negi and other officials. It also expressed alarm over the mishandling of evidence, noting that a pen drive recovered from Negi’s body—potentially containing key proof—was allegedly tampered with. Even more troubling was the claim that the Superintendent of Police in Shimla withheld documents from the Director General of Police.
Possible Deep-rooted Conspiracy
The court hinted at a deep-rooted nexus involving Desh Raj and Managing Director Harikesh Meena, IAS. The inquiry points to their bypassing official procedures, exerting undue mental pressure on employees, and favoring the private contractor, all suggesting systemic corruption.
Despite mounting evidence, the SIT appears to be shifting blame onto Negi’s mental state rather than investigating the hostile work environment that may have contributed to his death. The court was visibly critical of the SIT relying heavily on psychiatric reports without connecting the dots to workplace harassment.
Current Investigation Status and Legal Proceedings
Initially, an SIT was set up by the state police to find Negi after his disappearance on March 10, 2025. Following the discovery of his body on March 18 near Bhakra Dam in Bilaspur district, a fresh SIT was tasked with investigating his death.
The Additional Chief Secretary (Home) conducted a parallel inquiry into workplace harassment, submitting a report on April 8, 2025, which has not yet been acted upon by the government. The Advocate General defended the SIT, asserting its integrity and refuting claims of evidence destruction.
The court is currently weighing whether to transfer the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). While the petitioner’s family demands a CBI probe, citing bias and possible protection of senior officials, the Advocate General argued that such a move should be rare and only on compelling grounds, citing Supreme Court precedents.
Key Observations from the Court
The SIT has collected extensive evidence, including witness testimonies and digital data, but no direct proof of foul play has surfaced so far.
The forensic examination of devices recovered from Negi’s possession did not reveal incriminating evidence, leading police to lean towards suicide as the cause of death.
Negi was reportedly under extreme stress in his new role, with a history of mental illness including anxiety and depression.
However, suspicious behavior by senior officers remains under investigation.
The family is dissatisfied with the SIT’s assumption of suicide and frustrated by unexplained gaps in the timeline between Negi’s disappearance and death.
Doubts about the investigation’s fairness were raised by even the Director General of Police.
What Lies Ahead?
The court has urged the government to consider appointing a professional, impartial agency to reinvestigate the case. It emphasized the need to protect whistleblowers within HPPCL and deliver justice to the family of the late officer.
So far, an ASI involved has been suspended.
Justice Ajay Mohan Goel, who had earlier reserved the verdict, today ordered a CBI probe into the matter.
While CM Sukhu said he had “no objections” to a CBI probe, critics say it’s a face-saver after weeks of bungling.
As the CBI now takes charge, the big question looms—was it suicide, systemic harassment, or something more sinister?
The ball is now in the CBI’s court.
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