CBI team reaches Shimla to probe Negi death case

The special investigation team (SIT) constituted by the CBI has reached Shimla to investigate the case of mysterious death of Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (HPPCL) Chief Engineer Vimal Negi, whose body was found in a mutilated state in Gobindsagar Lake of Bilaspur district on March 18.

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As per sources, the three-member SIT, headed by Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Brijendra Prasad Singh, reached Shimla on Thursday to take the possession of the records of the investigation done by the SIT of the Shimla police to further proceed with the investigation.

On May 27, following the court’s direction, the CBI re-registered an FIR under Sections 108 (abetment to suicide) and 3(5)( involvement of many people in crime), which was earlier registered at the New Shimla Police Station against unidentified persons on March 19. The FIR was filed by the victim’s wife, Kiran Negi, who had alleged that her husband was being harassed by senior officials of the HPPCL for six months.

Negi, who had gone missing in Shimla on March 10, was found dead under suspicious circumstances, with his mutilated body being recovered from Gobindsagar Lake. After being found, his body was sent to All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Bilaspur, for the post-mortem examination. The body was later brought back to Shimla. His death drew outrage from his family members as well as HPPCL employees, who staged a protest at BCS in Shimla, making serious allegations against senior officials of the corporation namely Harikesh Meena, the Managing Director, as well as Desh Raj, Director (Electrical). The family alleged mental harassment, forcing him to work for longer hours and of being coerced into engaging in unethical deeds.

The family then demanded a CBI probe into the matter. Later on, an SIT was constituted under the supervision of the Senior SSP of Shimla to investigate the matter. The state government had also constituted a fact finding committee headed by Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) Onkar Chand Sharma to probe the matter.

However, DGP Atul Verma, in his status report/affidavit filed in the high court, had raised questions over the role of the SSP in the probe. The, the HC directed that the the be handed over to the CBI.