TNR News Network
Shimla: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), probing the mysterious death of Chief Engineer Vimal Negi, questioned five members of the earlier Himachal Pradesh Police special investigation team (SIT) that was handling the case before it was handed over to the central agency by the Himachal Pradesh High Court.
The SIT officials were summoned to the CBI office around 11.30 am and remained there for questioning until about 3.45 pm. Sources said the CBI conducted individual interrogations with each of the five to understand the sequence of events and the actions taken during the initial investigation. More rounds of questioning are likely.
Before the CBI took charge, the police SIT had seized mobile phones of seven engineers and staff members of the Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (HPPCL). The CBI has now sent these phones to New Delhi for forensic analysis.
In a major development, the CBI has demanded the original 25,000-page record from HPPCL related to Vimal Negi’s service and projects. While the police SIT had earlier received only photocopies, the CBI has refused to accept duplicates and asked the corporation to hand over the original documents within two days.
The investigating agency has also called the Power Corporation’s Engineers’ Association members to its office for questioning. The association had staged protests outside Negi’s office when his body was found and had openly accused senior officials of harassment. The CBI is likely to record their statements as part of its effort to gather comprehensive evidence.
Focus on mental harassment allegations
The CBI is also preparing to summon the officers and employees who were identified in the administrative inquiry conducted earlier by Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Onkar Sharma. The inquiry was ordered by the state government before the case was handed over to the central agency.
CBI sources confirmed that those accused of exerting mental pressure on Negi, a factor suspected to be linked to his death, will be interrogated. The agency has already recorded statements from Vimal Negi’s wife and brother on two occasions.
Apart from field inquiries, the CBI is closely studying the administrative inquiry report, an affidavit submitted by a former Director General of Police and the status report of the police SIT to build its case.
Vimal Negi was found dead under suspicious circumstances. Allegations of workplace harassment and institutional pressure have since cast a shadow over the state’s power corporation, prompting the High Court to intervene and hand over the probe to the CBI.
