CPM demands judicial probe into Vimal Negi's case

The CPM today raised questions over the past track record of the CBI in handling various cases in Himachal Pradesh and demanded a judicial probe into the death of Vimal Negi, Chief Engineer of Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (HPPCL).

CPM state secretary Sanjay Chauhan, while addressing mediapersons here, said, “There cannot be two opinions and justice must be brought to him though, unfortunately, only posthumously. This cannot be done without conducting a transparent and fair investigation, which is scrutinised to the principles of legal jurisprudence.”

He said, “This is the prime responsibility of the state government as per the spirit of the Constitution of India. It is difficult not to concede to the wishes of the family members of Vimal Negi of an investigation by the CBI but the danger of such an investigation must be made public. That is why from the very beginning, the CPM had expressed that a judicial inquiry must be instituted into the circumstances of Negi’s death.”

Chauhan said that the people of the state had witnessed the two most controversial cases of Hoshiyar Singh and Gudiya that the CBI had investigated. “The CPM was actively involved in creating mass awareness in both cases so that the real culprits were apprehended. However, the CBI helped the real culprits go scot free in both cases,” he alleged.

Chauhan said that in the Gudiya case, the parents of the deceased demanded reinvestigation under Section 173 (8) of the CrPC but, unfortunately, the then state government ignored their prayers.

Chauhan asked the state government to launch a drive against all kinds of corrupt practices and corrupt officers. He announced that the CPM would constitute a committee to unearth the truth in all such cases in which high-ups were involved and launch a war against corrupt officers and corruption.