Shimla, Sept 26,
The Himachal Pradesh High Court on Friday extended interim protection from coercive action to IAS officer and former HPPCL Managing Director, Harikesh Meena, in connection with the mysterious death case of Vimal Negi. The matter will now be heard on October 6.
A single bench of Justice Varinder Singh heard two bail applications linked to the case. Appearing for the CBI, counsel Janesh Mahajan did not oppose the extension of interim relief granted earlier to Meena.
The court also dealt with the bail plea of Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Pankaj Kumar, posted at Sadar police station, Shimla. His judicial custody was extended till October 6, when his fresh bail application will be considered. The CBI did not press for further police custody in his case.
Pankaj Kumar was arrested on September 14 from his native village in Bilaspur district for allegedly tampering with electronic evidence.
He was initially remanded in CBI custody but was later sent to Kaithu Jail under judicial custody. On September 16, a CBI special court had rejected the SIT’s request for extending his police remand by five days, instead sending him to 10 days’ judicial custody till September 26. His earlier bail plea was also dismissed.
During arguments, Kumar’s defence counsel, Piyush Verma, contended that repeated custodial interrogation was unwarranted since the High Court had earlier noted that such custody was not required. He maintained that the alleged offences under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita were bailable and that no new evidence justified CBI remand.
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