Shimla, Apr 7,
The Himachal Pradesh High Court on Monday allowed interim relief to Harikesh Meena, who has been booked in connection with the alleged abetment to suicide of Vimal Negi, Chief Engineer of the Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (HPPCL).
Take Free Subscription Complete this form
Choose Your Membership
The matter was heard by Justice Virender Singh, who passed the interim order after taking the status report filed by the police on record. The Court directed that no coercive action be taken against Meena until the next date of hearing, scheduled for April 9.
Senior Advocate N.S. Chandel appeared on behalf of the applicant, while the State was represented by Rohit Sharma, Deputy Advocate General, along with Mohinder Zharaick and H.S. Rawat, Additional Advocates General. Rajiv Raj, Vivekanand, and Chaman Negi appeared for the complainant. The Deputy Advocate General waived notice on behalf of the State.
Meena, along with co-accused Desh Raj—also a senior HPPCL official—was booked by the State police following the recovery of Vimal Negi’s body from Govind Sagar Lake in Bilaspur on March 18. Negi had been missing since March 10. The deceased’s family has alleged that workplace harassment led to his death.
On April 4, the Supreme Court had granted interim bail to Desh Raj, with a direction that no coercive steps be taken against him until the next hearing on July 22, 2025. The order was passed by a bench comprising Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah and Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra, in response to Raj’s anticipatory bail plea.
Earlier today, a bail application for Harikesh Meena was moved and taken up for hearing in the High Court. The matter will now be considered on April 9.
The case has drawn public attention amid allegations of systemic harassment within HPPCL. The police as well as a high powered IAS led committee investigation is currently ongoing.
