Shimla, June 3,
The Himachal Pradesh High Court has scheduled the hearing of CMP, filed by Shimla Superintendent of Police (SP) Sanjeev Gandhi in his personal capacity, for June 5. This petition challenges the May 23 order of Justice Ajay Mohan Goel, which handed over the investigation into the suspicious death of Vimal Negi to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). A division bench comprising Chief Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia and Justice Ranjan Sharma will hear the matter.
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Also read:CBI registers FIR in HP Power Corp Chief Engineer’s death, probes abetment angle
Originally filed as a Letters Patent Appeal (LPA) on May 30 in Gandhi’s official capacity as SP Shimla, the plea faced procedural objections and was subsequently withdrawn. The High Court Registry flagged the LPA for lacking approval from the Law Department, failing to route it through the Advocate General, and including several illegible pages. To rectify the issue, Gandhi refiled the matter as a fresh CMP in his personal name. The Registry accepted the amended petition on June 2.
Gandhi’s counsel, Advocate Jagdish Thakur, confirmed the acceptance and listing of the petition. He stated that the fresh CMP seeks to overturn the single bench decision transferring the probe to the CBI. Thakur expressed hope for a fair hearing, asserting that Gandhi’s objections were grounded in concerns over the probe’s direction.
Also read:Shimla SP Gandhi seeks ‘Leave to Appeal’, questions CBI’s handling of Vimal Negi case
In the petition, Gandhi has raised serious reservations about the CBI’s involvement, alleging that such a transfer could compromise the investigation. He pointed to his previous involvement in high-profile and politically sensitive matters, including the 2024 Rajya Sabha cash-for-vote controversy, the Himachal Rasoi LPG blast case, and the 2019 police recruitment scam. Gandhi argued that while he initiated the FIR in the recruitment scam, the CBI has not advanced the investigation substantially over the past two years, casting doubt on its effectiveness.
The legal and political tension surrounding the case intensified after a video of court proceedings on May 21 went viral, showing Justice Goel expressing concern over a rift between Gandhi and Director General of Police Atul Verma. The clip, shared by BJP MLA Sudhir Sharma, ignited a political storm. In response, Gandhi filed CMP on May 24, seeking legal action against Sharma and various social media platforms for allegedly tarnishing his image. However, the High Court dismissed this plea on May 28, noting that it had become functus officio after the main writ petition had already been decided.
The matter has continued to stir controversy as the state grapples with growing institutional and political divisions. The death of Vimal Negi, a Chief Engineer with Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (HPPCL), has raised serious questions. Negi disappeared on March 10 from his office, and his body was later discovered on March 18 in Bhakhra Dam, Bilaspur. His wife has accused a senior HPPCL officer of being involved in her husband’s death and has demanded that criminal proceedings be initiated against those responsible.
As the case returns to court on June 5, the petition filed by SP Gandhi marks another critical chapter in the unfolding legal battle that continues to test the boundaries of institutional accountability and political influence in Himachal Pradesh.
