Shimla, May 27,
The Himachal Pradesh government has sent three senior officials—Director General of Police (DGP) Dr. Atul Verma, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Onkar Chand Sharma, and Shimla Superintendent of Police (SP) Sanjeev Kumar Gandhi—on leave. This action follows the Himachal Pradesh High Court’s directive to transfer the investigation into the death of Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (HPPCL) Chief Engineer Vimal Negi to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) .
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During the leave period of ACS Onkar Chand Sharma, 1993 batch IAS officer KK Pant will hold the additional charge of Secretary (Home), Vigilance, and Revenue. The charge of DGP has been assigned to 1993 batch IPS officer Ashok Tiwari. Additionally, Gaurav Singh, currently serving as SP Solan, will take over the responsibilities of SP Shimla.
The High Court’s decision came after expressing dissatisfaction with the reports submitted by the Special Investigation Team (SIT), ACS (Home), and DGP HP, citing concerns over the impartiality and effectiveness of the investigation. The court highlighted internal conflicts among the state’s top officials, including the DGP and SP Shimla, which were reportedly impeding the progress of the investigation .
State Government’s Response
In response to the court’s observations and to ensure an unbiased and transparent investigation, the state government has relieved the aforementioned officials from their duties temporarily.
Chief Minister’s statement
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has stated that his government will not oppose the High Court’s directive to transfer the investigation of Vimal Negi’s death to the CBI. He emphasized the government’s commitment to transparency and justice, acknowledging the family’s concerns over the initial investigation’s inconsistencies.
Vimal Negi, a general manager at HPPCL, went missing on March 10, 2025, and his body was found in Govind Sagar Lake on March 18. The circumstances surrounding his death prompted legal and public scrutiny, leading to the High Court’s decision to transfer the case to the CBI for a transparent and thorough inquiry.
