Sunil Chadha
Shimla: – The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has made the first arrest in the controversial d*eath case of Vimal Negi, the HPPCL General Manager whose mysterious disappearance and subsequent recovery in Gobind Sagar Lake triggered outrage across Himachal Pradesh. ASI Pankaj has been taken into custody in connection with charges related to the case.
News of the arrest broke earlier today and quickly went viral on social media, rekindling public debate over accountability, justice, and the pace of investigation in high-profile cases. Many netizens expressed hope that this arrest marks a turning point in what has been a drawn-out legal process.
Vimal Negi went missing on March 10 and his body was discovered on March 18 in Gobind Sagar Lake in Bilaspur district. His wife, Kiran Negi, had alleged harassment by senior officials of Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (HPPCL).
Following her petition, the Himachal Pradesh High Court transferred the case to the CBI on May 23, citing serious concerns over the Special Investigation Team’s (SIT) handling of the investigation.
The FIR under Sections 108 (abetment to suicide) and 3(5) (common intention) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita was filed in New Delhi. Legal orders require that no Himachal cadre police officer be involved in the probe to ensure impartiality.
ASI Pankaj’s arrest is being seen as the CBI stepping up its investigations in response to growing public pressure and legal directives. According to sources, digital evidence, communication logs, and documents recovered from HPPCL and related premises have been subjected to forensic analysis.
While details of ASI Pankaj’s specific role are yet to be made public, the arrest has prompted renewed scrutiny of the accused senior officials, including Deshraj (Director – Electrical, HPPCL) and Harikesh Meena (Managing Director, HPPCL), both named in earlier complaints.
Critics and legal experts are now calling for the full investigative findings to be disclosed, to assuage public concerns over transparency and to ensure justice for Vimal Negi and his family.
