Himachal power corporation director suspended after protests over ‘missing’ chief engineer’s death

A director (electrical) of Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (HPPCL) has been suspended after the relatives of a deceased chief engineer of the corporation sat on a dharna demanding the suspension of senior officials and a CBI inquiry into his death, officials said on Thursday.

The body of Vimal Negi, who was missing since March 10, was found in Bilapsur on Tuesday.

Negi's wife has claimed that it was "not a suicide but murder", alleging that her husband was pressed, denied holidays, and harassed even when he was unwell and his blood pressure was fluctuating.

The protesters, who sat on dharna outside the HPPCL office in Shimla on Wednesday, refused to perform Negi's last rites till senior officials of the corporation were suspended.

They also raised slogans against HPPCL director (electrical) Desh Raj and its managing director Harikesh Meena.

The dharna was lifted late on Wednesday night only after the suspension of Desh Raj and assurance from four cabinet ministers that action would be taken against those found guilty.

A department inquiry is being contemplated against Desh Raj, whose services have been placed under suspension as per Rule 20 of the HPPCL Conduct, Discipline and Appeal Rules, a government order said.

Based on a complaint lodged by Negi's wife, a case has been registered at the New Shimla police station under Sections 108 (abetment to suicide) and 3 (5) (joint criminal liability) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), officials said.

On Wednesday, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu informed the Vidhan Sabha that a probe by an officer of additional chief secretary-rank had been ordered into the incident.