Chief Engineer Vimal Negi death case accused Desh Raj stares at arrest as Himachal High Court rejects his anticipatory bail plea

MANDI: The Himachal Pradesh High Court has rejected the anticipatory bail plea of Desh Raj, a Director in Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited who has been named in the FIR in the suspicious death case of Chief Engineer Vimal Negi.

With this ruling, Desh Raj now faces the possibility of arrest. A hearing on the matter was held on Wednesday (March 26, 2025), during which the court dismissed his bail petition.

The case had been pending before Justice Virendra Singh, who had reserved his verdict on March 24 after listening to arguments from both sides.

Investigation underway after mysterious death

The case dates back to March 10 when Chief Engineer Vimal Negi went missing from Shimla. His body was discovered eight days later on March 18 under suspicious circumstances from Bilaspur.

His death triggered a major controversy, with his family directly accusing Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation MD Harikesh Meena and Director Desh Raj of foul play. They also demanded a CBI probe into the matter.

Director Desh Raj placed under suspension

Following the allegations, the government took swift action, suspending Desh Raj and removing Harikesh Meena from duty. Another senior official has also been booked in connection with the case.

To ensure a thorough investigation, the police formed a special investigation team (SIT), which has been questioning several employees of the Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation. However, reports indicate that Desh Raj has gone underground, and his mobile phone remains switched off.

Legal arguments and claims of defense

During the court hearing, Desh Raj’s lawyers argued that he and Vimal Negi were former classmates who had joined the department together. They maintained that assigning work to subordinates is a routine administrative task and should not be construed as a crime.

However, the high court remained unconvinced, rejecting Desh Raj’s plea for anticipatory bail, increasing the likelihood of his arrest.

Political uproar and demand for CBI probe

The controversy has also rocked the Himachal Pradesh Assembly during the ongoing budget session. While the opposition BJP has been demanding a CBI investigation, the state government has refused to hand over the case to the central agency.

Vimal Negi’s family has alleged that he was being pressured to facilitate corruption in a solar project, which led to extreme mental distress.

Speaking on the matter, Leader of the Opposition and former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said in Shimla on Tuesday that the people of Himachal Pradesh had “lost faith in the Chief Minister”.
Jai Ram reiterated that a CBI probe was necessary to ensure an impartial and transparent investigation into the case.

Munish Sood