The controversy surrounding the mysterious death of Vimal Negi, General Manager-cum-Chief Engineer of Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (HPPCL), continues to escalate, with questions being raised over the state government’s handling of the investigation. Negi had gone missing from Shimla on March 10, and his body was found eight days later in the Bhakra dam near Jhandutta in Bilaspur.
The circumstances of his death have raised serious suspicions, with his family alleging that he was murdered rather than having died by suicide.
Negi’s wife, Kiran Negi, has publicly voiced her dissatisfaction with the ongoing investigation, accusing the police of shielding certain officers named in the FIR. She alleged that one officer, whose anticipatory bail was rejected by the Himachal Pradesh High Court, later obtained relief from the Supreme Court, yet the police have not taken any action.
Kiran also claimed that despite Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu's personal assurance of a fair investigation, no substantial progress has been made. She stated that Vimal Negi had been subjected to continuous harassment within HPPCL and accused the state machinery of betraying the family’s trust.
The BJP has meanwhile demanded a CBI inquiry into the case, citing a lack of transparency and growing public mistrust. Responding to the demand, Chief Minister Sukhu accused the BJP of politicizing the issue for electoral gains.
He stated that this was a moment to console the grieving family, not play politics. He also said that if the BJP wants a CBI probe, it is free to pursue it. Sukhu clarified that the state government had ordered an inquiry on the same day Negi’s body was found, assigning the investigation to Additional Chief Secretary Onkar Sharma, while a separate police investigation is also underway. He appealed to the BJP to refrain from politicising the tragedy, at least in this sensitive matter.
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The tragedy sparked widespread outrage, especially in Negi’s native district of Kinnaur. After his body was recovered and brought to Shimla, hundreds of people, including family members and residents of Kinnaur, staged a dharna outside the HPPCL office.
They demanded the immediate suspension of the then Managing Director (an IAS officer) and a Director of HPPCL. The state government responded by removing the two officers from their posts, suspending the Director, and ordering a time-bound inquiry to be completed within 15 days.
An FIR was filed at a Shimla police station under the charge of abetment to suicide, although the MD was not directly named—only the designation was mentioned in the report.
The post-mortem report revealed that Vimal Negi had died five days before his body was found, suggesting he had been alive for three days after going missing.
However, during this period, his mobile phone remained switched off, adding further mystery to the case. His last known location was traced to the Ghumarwin area, but there was reportedly no effort from HPPCL officials to reach out to his family during the period he was missing.
The case has taken on greater significance with its alleged links to corruption within HPPCL, particularly in connection to the Una solar power project and the Shong Tong hydro project in Kinnaur. The family and public continue to demand justice for Vimal Negi, while political tensions around the issue remain high.
Also Read: Row erupts over mysterious death of HP Chief Engineer
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