CBI to Probe Vimal Negi Death Case Amid Allegations of Evidence Tampering

Shimla, May 23, 2025: In a significant development, the Himachal Pradesh High Court has handed over the investigation into the mysterious death of Vimal Negi, Chief Engineer of Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (HPPCL), to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The order comes in response to mounting concerns over the integrity of the police probe and alleged manipulation of critical evidence.

Negi went missing on March 10, and his body was recovered from Govind Sagar Lake on March 18. His wife, Kiran Negi, had petitioned the court seeking a CBI inquiry, stating that her husband was under severe pressure from senior HPPCL officials and was being harassed before his disappearance.

During the court proceedings, Justice Ajay Mohan Goel observed glaring lapses in the state police’s Special Investigation Team (SIT) report. Most notably, a pen drive found on Negi’s body was reportedly concealed and its data deleted by a police constable. Furthermore, contradictory affidavits submitted by the Director General of Police (DGP) and the Superintendent of Police (SP), Shimla, added to the court’s concerns.

The High Court has also barred the state police from filing a chargesheet in the case without its explicit permission, emphasizing the need for an impartial and comprehensive investigation.

This directive marks a crucial shift in the pursuit of justice for Vimal Negi, whose death has sparked public outrage and raised serious questions about accountability within the power corporation and state law enforcement.