Shimla, May 27,
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has formally registered an FIR at SC-1 Police Station, New Delhi, in connection with the mysterious death of Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation’s Chief Engineer Vimal Negi. The case, earlier under investigation by Shimla Police’s SIT, was transferred to the CBI on May 23 by the Himachal Pradesh High Court following a petition filed by Negi’s wife, Kiran Negi.
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The FIR has been registered under Sections 108 and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. Section 108 pertains to abetment of suicide, prescribing up to 10 years’ imprisonment and a fine. Section 3(5) applies when multiple individuals commit a crime with common intention, making each equally liable.
Negi had gone missing on March 10 and was later found dead in Gobindsagar Lake on March 18. A postmortem was conducted at AIIMS Bilaspur. That evening, family members held a protest with the body outside the Power Corporation office in Kasumpti, demanding action. An FIR was lodged the same night at New Shimla Police Station based on a complaint by Kiran Negi, who alleged that senior officers of the corporation, including Director (Electrical) Desraj and MD Harikesh Meena, had mentally harassed her husband and pushed him toward suicide.
The state government had also ordered an administrative inquiry led by Additional Chief Secretary Omkar Sharma. However, conflicting reports from the ACS, DGP, and SP Shimla raised concerns over the fairness of the police probe. Notably, the DGP’s report criticized the SIT’s handling of the case.
In light of these findings, Justice Ajay Mohan Goel directed the case be handed to the CBI, excluding Himachal cadre officers. As CBI’s Chandigarh unit includes such officers, the case was assigned to its Delhi unit. DSP Brijendra Prasad Singh, Inspector Pradeep Kumar, and SI Nilesh Singh would lead the investigation.
