DGP accused Shimla SSP of attempt to influence investigation

DGP Atul Verma has raised questions over the role of SSP, Shimla, Sanjeev Kumar Gandhi in the investigation into the case of the death of Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (HPPCL) Chief Engineer Vimal Negi. He has accused Gandhi of trying to influence and block the investigation within all branches of the Police Department.

Though the SSP has denied the allegations and stated that the investigation is being done professionally, the differences between the DGP and him played a crucial role in the Himachal High Court’s decision to hand over the probe to the CBI to ensure an unbiased investigation into the case.

Negi’s family members had levelled similar accusations. They had alleged that the police were not conducting the investigation fairly, hence were demanding a CBI probe in to the matter.

The DGP, in a report submitted to the High Court, had alleged that the SSP, who had held this position for over two years, had attempted to obstruct the investigation at multiple levels, including delaying report submission and exerting pressure on senior officials such as the Director, State Forensic Science Laboratory (SFSL). The report also states that the SSP refused to respond to the directives from the DIG, Southern Range.

“A pen drive recovered during the investigation contains limited documentation related to the Pekhubella project in Una district. While one power point presentation appears to be a standard departmental document, officials believe that further examination by specialists familiar with the project is necessary to determine its significance,” said the DGP.

In a status report and affidavit filed by the SSP, Shimla, it was stated that the investigation was being done with utmost professional integrity and ability by experienced teams of officers. He had also mentioned that the final police report would likely be submitted before the competent court in the coming three or four weeks.

The SSP had mentioned that during the course of investigation, it was found that the deceased was suffering from nervous illness, general anxiety or depression. He had stated that the electronic evidence collected during the course of investigation was still with forensic experts. The office records, documentary voluminous, the aspect of crime such as the last presence seen on the bus stand, Ghumarwin, and the location of the body in the Gobind Sagar Lake and some aspects were still under probe.

Pen drive formatted

The pen drive found on Vimal Negi’s body was formatted on March 21, 2025, which was a serious misconduct on the part of the SIT. It could have contained crucial evidence, hence was tampered with or destroyed after recovery. Atul Verma, DGP

Himachal Tribune