The Himachal Pradesh Government has ordered a high-level probe into the mysterious death of Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (HPPCL) General Manager Vimal Negi. The inquiry, led by an officer of the rank of Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), will aim to uncover the circumstances surrounding the death, and those found responsible will not be spared.
In a suo-motu statement on the incident, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, who also holds the home portfolio, revealed that Mr. Negi had been missing since March 10, 2025. His body was recovered from the Govind Sagar Lake near the Sahtali police station in Bilaspur on March 18. The body was identified from a wallet found with it, and a post-mortem examination has been conducted. The Chief Minister also mentioned that the deceased officer’s wife had recently met with him and Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi, seeking assistance in locating her husband. Following this, a joint manhunt involving police officials, Power Corporation staff, and family members was launched.
The Chief Minister expressed his deep shock at the tragic loss of an honest and hardworking officer, stating that a high-level inquiry would be conducted to uncover the truth, as the matter is of grave importance to the functioning of the corporation. Sukhu further stated that the state government would honor Negi’s contributions and described his death as an unfortunate event.
Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur raised concerns about a letter from HPPCL employees highlighting a difficult work environment within the corporation, which, they alleged, might have contributed to this tragic incident. Quoting the letter in the assembly, Thakur noted that the circumstances surrounding Negi’s death raised serious questions about potential mismanagement and undue pressure, as allegedly claimed by his wife. “Many of us have been under similar pressure in recent years,” Thakur said, referring to the content of the letter.
Meanwhile Employees of Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (HPPCL) staged a protest outside the company’s headquarters at BCS in Shimla on Wednesday, demanding a free and fair investigation into the mysterious death of General Manager Vimal Negi.
The state government’s investigation into the death of Vimal Negi is expected to shed light on the events leading to his demise and address concerns regarding the working conditions at HPPCL.
