Lost faith in police probe: Kin of deceased HPPCL chief engineer

Family members of Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (HPPCL) chief engineer Vimal Negi, whose body was found under mysterious circumstances in the Gobind Sagar Lake in Bilaspur district on March 18, on Monday raised questions over the police probe into the case.

Negi went missing on March 10 and his body was found on March 18. The relatives of the deceased sat on a dharna outside the HPPCL office in Shimla with the body the next day. Negi’s wife, Kiran Negi, had alleged that he was being tortured by his superior officials for six months. Negi was forced to work till late at night even when he was ill, she alleged.

A case of abetment to suicide and joint criminal liability under the BNS has been registered against the director (electrical) and managing director of the HPPCL.

Rather than gathering evidence against those who allegedly harassed Negi, the police are scrutinising his properties, bank accounts and personal relationships, the family alleged, saying they had lost faith in the probe.

“After registering a case, the police failed to act swiftly against the accused and it seems that attempts are being made to save the culprits by shifting the focus of the investigation from the culprits,” said Surendra Negi, the victim’s brother, said.