Daijiworld Media Network - Shimla

Shimla, May 27: The suspicious death of 28-year-old engineer Vimal Negi has sparked political unrest and exposed a deep rift within the Himachal Pradesh Police. Negi, who went missing from Shimla on March 10, was found dead in a lake in Bilaspur district eight days later, under mysterious circumstances.

Negi was employed with Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (HPPCL) and had joined the company in June 2024. His wife, Kiran Negi, has accused senior officials of harassing and mentally torturing him for six months, forcing him to work even during illness. She also alleged he was subjected to repeated humiliation by superiors.

Following public outrage and a protest by the family outside HPPCL’s Shimla office where they displayed his body in a call for justice the police registered a case of abetment to suicide and joint criminal liability under BNS against HPPCL Director (Electrical) Deshraj and Managing Director Harikesh Meena.

Initially, the state government formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT), but serious concerns raised by the Director General of Police (DGP) regarding the manner of investigation led the Himachal Pradesh High Court to hand over the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The single bench of Justice Ajay Goyal also ordered that no officer from the state cadre be involved in the probe. The court’s order followed a petition by Kiran Negi.

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said his government would respect the court’s directive and not challenge it, though he expressed dissatisfaction over the court’s decision to exclude Himachal officers from the probe. He also accused the opposition of politicising the issue.

Meanwhile, the Leader of Opposition, Jairam Thakur, welcomed the court’s order, alleging that Negi’s death was linked to corruption and people close to the CM.

The case has also turned into a showdown within the police force. Shimla SP Sanjeev Kumar Gandhi, who led the initial SIT, has levelled serious allegations against DGP Atul Verma. Speaking to the media, Gandhi claimed the DGP attempted to obstruct the investigation and misled the judiciary through false affidavits. He asserted that crucial forensic evidence, including a tampered pen drive, was recovered by his team.

“This is not a personal fight. I stand for justice and transparency,” Gandhi said, while also submitting a leave application to shield himself and his team from what he termed harassment. He has approached the court to secure all evidence collected so far.

Reacting strongly, DGP Verma has recommended Gandhi’s immediate suspension for making “unsubstantiated and inappropriate” accusations against constitutional authorities and top officials. He urged the Home Department to initiate a departmental inquiry.

As the case transitions to the CBI, it has now become a test of transparency, accountability, and justice—not just for Negi’s grieving family but for the credibility of institutions in Himachal Pradesh.