When the State’s Own DGP Casts Doubt on Police Probe, Credibility Is Irretrievably Damaged: Himachal Pradesh High Court Transfers HPPCL GM Death Case to CBI

“Truth Shall Not Be Suppressed for the Sake of Powerful Individuals”: In a landmark judgment Himachal Pradesh High Court, presided over by Justice Ajay Mohan Goel, ordered the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to take over the probe into the mysterious death of Shri Vimal Negi, General Manager (Electrical), Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (HPPCL), whose body was recovered from Govind Sagar Lake after he went missing under suspicious circumstances.

Observing serious lapses, suppression of facts, and credible allegations of coercion and pressure by senior officials of HPPCL, the Court categorically held: “This is an exceptional situation, which requires that the matter be investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation… to give credence to the investigation so that the matter is investigated impartially.”

“The Dead Speak When the Living Are Gagged”: High Court Criticizes State for Sitting on Explosive Inquiry Report

The case revolves around the disappearance and subsequent death of Shri Vimal Negi, an electrical engineer with a spotless service record, deputed as General Manager (Renewables) at HPPCL. He was last seen on 10 March 2025, and his body was recovered on 18 March 2025 from Bhakra Dam. An FIR was registered the next day, under Sections 108 and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

Despite repeated pleas by Ms. Kiran Negi, the wife of the deceased, the authorities failed to investigate promptly. Her complaint stated unequivocally that her husband was being “harassed and mentally tortured” by his seniors in HPPCL. Yet, the FIR suspiciously named the accused as ‘Unknown’.

Reacting to this, the Court observed: “When the family of the deceased was crying hoarse from day one that there was foul play in the death of Shri Vimal Negi, why till date, no investigation was being carried out by the SIT to ascertain what transpired from 10th March to the recovery of the body defies any logic.”

On 19 March 2025, the State Government had itself directed an inquiry by the Additional Chief Secretary (Home) into allegations that the deceased was under official pressure. The inquiry report was submitted on 8 April 2025, but not acted upon. The Court expressed shock:

“The State chose to sit over the same and ensured that the inquiry report does not see the light of the day.”

“Aap Problem Mein Aa Jaoge”: Deceased Officer Was Threatened by HPPCL Director to Help Contractor

The inquiry report by Additional Chief Secretary Onkar Sharma, which was finally perused by the Court, revealed explosive findings:

Shri Manish Chaudhary, DGM (Electrical), deposed that late Vimal Negi and he were pressurized by Director (Electrical) Desh Raj to reduce the penalty on a contractor from 45 days to 23 days.

“He used to threaten us saying, ‘Aap problem mein aa jaoge’,” the witness stated.

Another witness, PW-5 Shri Rajnish Katoch, testified that the same Director pressurized Vimal Negi to inflate revenue projections from Rs. 19 crore to Rs. 25 crore for Vidhan Sabha documents.

Shri Bipan Guleria, a senior HPPCL officer, testified that “Vimal Negi was pressurized to release final project payments to M/s Prozeal Pvt. Ltd. without Board approval.”

The Court observed: “What the Inquiry Officer could pen down in his inquiry report within 15 days, has not been unraveled by the SIT, which was constituted as far back as 19th March 2025.”

“SIT Focused on Depression, Ignored Coercion”: High Court Condemns Tunnel-Vision Investigation

The State police tried to downplay the angle of abetment by focusing on the deceased’s history of depression and anxiety. But the Court refused to buy this narrative.

“Why is the SIT trying to portray that the deceased had nervous disorder?... The affidavit is conspicuously silent on whether the deceased was being pressurized by his seniors for extraneous reasons to help a Project proponent.”

It went further to say:

“The SIT is investigating as if their job is only to confirm whether the deceased ended his life because of ‘improper behavior’... not to investigate whether he was coerced or threatened to act illegally.”

“DGP’s Questions Cannot Be Ignored”: Court Highlights Shocking Findings on Tampering with Digital Evidence

Perhaps the most damning criticism came in light of an affidavit filed by the Director General of Police (DGP) himself. The DGP expressed grave concern over the tampering of digital evidence – particularly a pen drive found on the deceased, which was formatted on 21 March 2025.

“Why was the pen drive formatted? Who all knew about it on 18 March itself? Why were CDR/IPDR records of officers not traced? These are intuitive next steps of investigation, yet not followed.”

He flagged:

• Delay in seizing phones of accused officers

• Disappearance of officers soon after making critical witness statements

• Destruction of evidence despite clear indications that the pen drive contained thousands of files

The Court summarized: “All these issues flagged by the Director General of Police, Himachal Pradesh raise grave doubts over the fairness of the investigation being conducted.”

Final Judgment: CBI to Probe Death of Vimal Negi; No Himachal Officer to Be Part of CBI Team

Finding that the SIT had failed to inspire confidence, that evidence was mishandled, and that key leads were being suppressed, the Court ordered:

“This Court allows the petition and directs that the investigation in the matter be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation by the State Police… No officer from Himachal Pradesh Cadre shall be a part of the Special Investigation Team constituted by CBI.”

The petition was thus allowed, and all pending applications disposed of.

Date of Decision: 23 May 2025