SHIMLA: The Himalaya Janjatiya Lok Adhikar Mahasangh has threatened to move the Himachal Pradesh High Court if the state government fails to respond to its demand for a CBI probe into alleged corruption in the Pakhubela solar project and the circumstances surrounding the mysterious death of Vimal Negi, then General Manager of Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (HPPCL).
The Mahasangh said it had approached the Chief Secretary seeking a CBI investigation, but no response has been received from the state government so far.
The association has now decided to take up the matter with Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and, if no action follows, approach the High Court.
The development assumes significance as the Government of India has already written to the Chief Secretary of Himachal Pradesh on the complaint submitted by R.S. Negi, president of the Mahasangh.
In its communication dated July 6, 2026, the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Department of Personnel and Training, forwarded the complaint to the Chief Secretary and specifically pointed out that prior consent of the State Government is a prerequisite for entrusting any case to the CBI for investigation under the Delhi Special Police Establishment (DSPE) Act, 1946.
The Centre accordingly requested the Himachal government to take appropriate action in the matter.
The Mahasangh has taken the Centre's communication as a clear indication that the ball is now in the state government's court.
"We are not asking the government to merely send another reminder. It is a decision that has to be taken by the Government of Himachal Pradesh. We will approach the Chief Minister and seek a clear decision on granting consent for a CBI investigation," the association said.
The Mahasangh has alleged that the proposed investigation is necessary to uncover the alleged corruption in the Pakhubela solar project and to lift the veil over the circumstances surrounding the death of Vimal Negi.
According to the association, the CBI investigation in the Vimal Negi case has already brought material relating to the alleged irregularities to light, but the wider allegations concerning the Pakhubela project have not been properly investigated.
The association said it would wait for the state government's response after taking up the matter with the Chief Minister. If the government fails to act or does not respond, the Mahasangh said it would have no option but to seek the intervention of the High Court.
The Centre's July 6 communication has therefore put the onus squarely on the Himachal government to decide whether consent should be granted for a CBI probe.
