Explosive testimony by Suneel Grover ‘exposes role’ of senior Himachal power corpn officials in Chief Engineer Vimal Negi *suicide case

Shocking details of financial irregularities, project mismanagement and workplace harassment surface

MANDI: The testimony by key witness Suneel Grover in the high-level investigation into the death of Chief Engineer Vimal Negi has brought to light alleged massive corruption and financial mismanagement within the Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (HPPCL).

In his testimony before the investigation committee led by IAS officer Onkar Chand Sharma, All India Power Engineers Federation patron Suneel Grover, who is the former Managing Director of Himachal Pradesh State Load Dispatch Centre, has directly accused HPPCL Managing Director and IAS officer Harikesh Meena and suspended Director Desh Raj of “orchestrating corruption, manipulating contracts and harassing engineers who resisted their illicit dealings”.

‘Irregularities’ in Kinnaur, Una power projects

While deposing before the probe committee, Suneel Grover alleged large-scale embezzlement in the 450-MW Shongtong Karcham Hydro Electric Project in Kinnaur and the 32-MW Pekhubela Solar Power Project in Una, revealing how these projects were allegedly mismanaged to benefit favoured contractors.
He has alleged corruption, intimidation and financial malpractices within Himachal Pradesh’s power sector.

Vimal Negi was mentally tortured for months, alleges Grover

Suneel Grover has alleged that Chief Engineer Vimal Negi was subjected to relentless mental harassment, pressure tactics and was forced to approve fraudulent financial dealings under duress.

“When Vimal Negi refused to sign on manipulated contracts and inflated project costs, he became a target,” Grover said. “He was denied leave for over six months, burdened with excessive workload and completely isolated within the organisation. His pleas for relief were ignored, pushing him into severe mental distress.”

According to Suneel Grover, the systematic harassment was a deliberate strategy by Harikesh Meena and Desh Raj to break Vimal Negi’s spirit.
“Vimal Negi was an honest officer, but he was up against a corrupt system that punished the integrity and rewarded wrongdoings,” Grover said in his testimony.

Crores embezzled in hydro, solar power projects

Suneel Grover cited two glaring examples of corruption-ridden projects under Harikesh Meena and Desh Raj, exposing their incompetence, financial mismanagement and blatant abuse of power.

Pekhubela Solar Power Project (32 MW)

“This project is a glaring example of how corruption inflates costs, drains public funds and results in shoddy infrastructure,” Grover alleged, citing the following shortcomings.
• Completion cost: ₹220 crore (allegedly inflated far beyond actual estimates)
• Cost of construction per MW: ₹6.8 crore (against the national average of ₹3.5–4 crore)
• Tariff proposed by HPPCL: ₹4.90 per unit (rejected by the HPERC, revised to ₹2.90)
• Fraudulent tender process: Awarded to M/s Prozeal by allegedly violating eligibility norms.
• Incomplete work, yet payments released: Despite drainage works being unfinished, full payments were released, causing severe flooding in August 2024.

Shongtong Karcham Hydro Electric Project (450 MW)

“The project cost has nearly tripled with hardly 50% of the work completed. This is nothing but daylight robbery,” Suneel Grover said, citing the following shortcomings:
• Approved estimated cost (as per DPR): ₹1,724.10 crore
• Civil works: ₹1,165 crore
• Electromechanical works: ₹504.20 crore
• Transmission works: ₹54.90 crore
• Expenditure incurred up to August 2024: ₹2,230 crore (despite only 48-53% work completion)
• Estimated final cost (if completed by December 2026, which is highly unlikely): ₹4,800 crore

‘Undue favours’ to Patel Engineers at Shongtong Karcham HEP

In his testimony, Suneel Grover has accused Harikesh Meena of granting undue financial benefits to M/s Patel Engineers, the main civil contractor for the project.
He alleged that Meena attempted to release ₹450 crore as an interest-free advance to Patel Engineers, bypassing financial regulations.
An additional ₹128/km was proposed for material haulage, despite already inflated costs.
The contractor had already been paid ₹1,080 crores, even though only 48% of the work was completed.

Grover has questioned why Patel Engineers was favoured despite clear project delays and alleged financial mismanagement.
Grover has linked Vimal Negi’s suicide to the corruption and harassment he faced.

“Negi refused to compromise his integrity and for that, he was systematically tortured,” Grover stated. “Meena and Desh Raj created an environment of fear where honest officers were punished and corrupt ones were rewarded,” he alleged.

Engineers demand arrests, government action

The Himachal Pradesh Power Engineers Association and All India Power Engineers Federation have called for immediate action against Meena and Desh Raj.
Suneel Grover has demanded the dismissal of Meena and Desh Raj under Article 311 of the Constitution to ensure they do not hold any public office again.

He has also fought a CBI investigation into the HPPCL’s fraudulent dealings, including financial transactions related to both projects.
He has also sought the immediate arrest of those responsible for the financial and administrative mess. “If no action is taken, more honest officers like Vimal Negi will be driven to suicide,” Grover warned.

Munish Sood