Alleges that desperation hints at involvement of big fish
TNR News Network
Shimla:
Himachal Pradesh Leader of the Opposition and former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur has launched a scathing attack on the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led state government, accusing it of making “desperate attempts” to reclaim the investigation into HP Power Corporation engineer Vimal Negi’s mysterious death from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Jai Ram Thakur alleged that the government’s actions clearly pointed towards a deeper conspiracy and an alleged cover-up involving powerful individuals.
“Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu seems to be the first in the country’s history who is trying to take a case back from the CBI after initially handing it over. This raises serious questions about who the government is trying to protect,” Jai Ram Thakur said in a strongly worded press release issued from Shimla.
Claims case could implicate several high-ranking officials or influential people
Jai Ram Thakur stated that the state government’s urgency to disrupt or reverse the CBI probe into Vimal Negi’s death indicated that the matter was not just about one individual but could implicate several high-ranking officials or influential people. “This desperation shows that many people may be awaiting jail. The government is standing on its head — first giving the case to the CBI and now pulling all strings to get it back,” he said.
He accused the Chief Minister of shielding officers involved in manipulating the investigation and flouting rules with impunity. “The moment the probe started pointing towards uncomfortable truths, the administration started panicking. Earlier, it seemed something was off. Now it’s clear the entire system is compromised.”
Pen drive tampering and police role under scanner
Citing a crucial development in the case, Jai Ram Thakur said that a key piece of evidence — a pen drive recovered from Vimal Negi’s possession — was allegedly formatted inside a police station before being handed over for forensic analysis. “If this isn’t destruction of evidence, what is?” he asked.
He further pointed out that a police employee is already in jail over the tampering incident, based on a video recorded by fishermen who reportedly discovered the body. “This alone proves that the state’s police cannot be trusted with the case. What else has been buried to protect high-ranking officials?” Jai Ram Thakur asked.
Says Sukhu govt has lost credibility in this case
Jai Ram Thakur recalled that after Vimal Negi went missing, his family had suspected foul play and demanded a CBI probe. The CM initially promised justice on the floor of the Assembly and sought two weeks for the local police to investigate. But when the family didn’t see progress, they were forced to take out candle marches and approach the High Court.
The court, unimpressed by the state police’s conduct, ordered a CBI investigation and barred any Himachal-based officer from participating in the probe. Despite this, Jai Ram Thakur alleged, certain officers — reportedly close to the CM — continued to obstruct the investigation and now even question the CBI’s role, indirectly casting aspersions on the judiciary.
“From the very beginning, there have been attempts to suppress evidence, delay justice and protect those in power. Even now, officers involved in wrongdoing have neither been punished nor removed from critical positions. What kind of system change is this?” he questioned.
