Photo source: Internet
Shimla, Nov 21,
In a significant order that adds to the tightening judicial scrutiny over the CBI’s handling of the Vimal Negi death investigation, the Himachal Pradesh High Court has dismissed the agency’s plea to remove the State Government as a party in the bail proceedings of IAS officer Harikesh Meena. Justice Virender Singh, delivering a detailed 13-page order on Thursday, held that the State’s presence in the cause-title has no bearing on the CBI’s authority or the independence of the ongoing probe.
The CBI had argued that allowing the State to remain in the matter would undermine the rationale behind transferring the investigation away from the Himachal Pradesh Police earlier this year. The agency claimed the government might attempt to justify the conduct of its former SIT, whose investigation the High Court had previously found inconsistent with the Additional Chief Secretary (Home)’s inquiry report. The Court, however, rejected the concern outright.
“The mere presence of the State of Himachal Pradesh as a party would not affect the right of the CBI to conduct the investigation,” the single-judge bench noted, underscoring that status reports are being sought only from the central agency.
Every story we publish comes with hours of listening, verifying, and reporting from the ground. We do this because Himachal deserves journalism that speaks for its people, not for advertisers or powerful interests.
But truthful, independent reporting survives only when readers like you stand behind it.
If our work has ever informed you, helped you, or made you see an issue more clearly—please consider supporting us.
Your contribution is more than support — it keeps honest journalism alive.
📩 Contact on WhatsApp to Contribute
Justice Singh further observed that the CBI had not demonstrated “how the presence of the State in the bail application would cause hindrance in the investigation,” adding that the matter before the bench was strictly limited to determining the applicant’s relief under Section 482 BNSS.
The State, represented by Advocate General Anup Rattan, had strongly opposed the CBI’s plea. In its reply, the government alleged mala fides in the agency’s conduct toward members of the earlier SIT, pointing out that officers were summoned to Delhi despite the CBI operating a camp office in Shimla. The Court recorded these objections but clarified that the bail court is not the forum to adjudicate accusations exchanged between the two agencies.
The decision comes just days after the Supreme Court, while granting bail to co-accused HPPCL director Desh Raj, had flagged concerns about the CBI’s investigation, directing video-recording of the interrogation process and cautioning against politically influenced or public-oriented posturing by the agency. Though the High Court did not comment on the apex court’s observations, the two developments combined signal heightened judicial oversight of the probe.
With the plea dismissed, the Himachal Government remains a party in the proceedings, although the Court has made it clear the State cannot file status reports or address arguments on the merits of the investigation — those responsibilities remain exclusively with the CBI. The matter has now been posted for November 26 for the agency to submit its next status report.
About the Author
