SHIMLA: In a major blow to the credibility of the Himachal Pradesh Police, the Himachal Pradesh High Court has directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to exclude all Himachal-cadre officers from the investigation into the suspicious death of Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (HPPCL) Chief Engineer Vimal Negi.
The high court’s directive, issued on Friday (May 23, 2025), underscores a lack of faith in the Himachal-cadre officers.
The directive follows mounting concerns over internal wrangling between top police officials and a visibly delayed investigation. The high court cited discord between the Director General of Police (DGP) Atul Verma and the Shimla Superintendent of Police (SP) Sanjeev Gandhi as a major factor contributing to the erosion of public trust.
HC concurs with family’s demand for independent probe
Advocate RK Bawa, representing the family of the deceased officer, welcomed the high court’s decision. “The high court agreed with the family’s contention that the investigation carried out by the state police was neither impartial nor thorough,” Bawa said. “The possibility of foul play in Vimal Negi’s death cannot be ruled out.”
According to Bawa, the Additional Chief Secretary (Home and Revenue), Onkar Sharma, had already raised serious questions about the fairness of the state-led investigation.
In a detailed 66-page fact-finding report submitted to the government on April 8, 2025, Sharma outlined several discrepancies and declined a request by the Secretary (Power) to revise the report to include the rebuttals from the three officers accused of harassing Negi. This refusal, Bawa noted, added credibility to the findings and reinforced the family’s claim of systemic cover-up.
ACS report indicts senior HPPCL officials
The ACS report reportedly indicted several senior HPPCL officials, including suspended director Deshraj and then-managing director Harikesh Meena, both of whom have been accused by Vimal Negi’s family of mental harassment leading up to his death.
The report also noted that the case had not been investigated in a fair and unbiased manner, further strengthening the demand for a CBI inquiry.
On March 10, 2025, Vimal Negi went missing reportedly after receiving a call from Deshraj. His body was recovered from Gobind Sagar Lake eight days later.
While the initial theory suggested suicide by drowning, the family alleged murder, citing workplace harassment and deliberate suppression of the post-mortem findings.
The investigation soon became entangled in a power struggle between senior officers, leading to inconsistent statements, delays and a growing public outcry. These complications culminated in the High Court’s strong rebuke of the Shimla police and its decision to hand the case to the CBI — with a crucial caveat: no involvement of officers from Himachal Pradesh, says Bawa.
S Gopal Puri
