S Gopal Puri
Shimla: Kiran Negi, wife of the late Vimal Negi, has strongly criticized the Himachal Pradesh government, accusing it of shielding officials allegedly involved in the case that led to her husband’s death. Speaking to one Samwad Bharat, news portal, she raised serious questions about the recent postings of officials still under investigation for corruption.
“Why is the government appointing officers with such grave allegations against them? The same officers, whose actions are under judicial scrutiny, are being promoted or re-posted. What message is the government trying to send?” Kiran Negi asked.
She referred specifically to the officers whose roles are currently under investigation in the Vimal Negi case, expressing anguish that despite multiple reassurances from the Chief Minister and ministers about standing with the bereaved family, there has been no visible action or empathy on the ground.
Following Vimal Negi’s death, which triggered widespread protests, the family held a dharna with his body in Dehradun, demanding justice. Kiran alleged that even then, the administration failed to take decisive steps. “We faced enormous difficulty during the protests in Meena and Dehradun, and today the same officials are back in powerful positions. It clearly shows who the government is standing with,” she stated.
Referring to the ongoing investigation by the Himachal Pradesh Police, Kiran Negi expressed concern over the state’s role in the judicial process. “When the bail application of the accused was rejected in the High Court, the government failed to even present a lawyer in the Supreme Court. This silence speaks volumes,” she said.
In a sharp indictment, she highlighted that the very SP whose probe was suspected and subsequently handed over to the CBI by the court, has now allegedly been reappointed to a significant post. “The same SP is back again. The same ISP Shimla whose investigation raised suspicion has been brushed under the carpet. Now it is absolutely clear where the government’s sympathy lies—and it is not with us,” she said.
Kiran Negi’s statements are likely to intensify the pressure on the government to clarify its stand and ensure transparency in the ongoing investigation.
