Govt will not challenge High Court order to hand over Negi death case to CBI: Sukhu
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today accused the BJP of politicising the case of the death of Vimal Negi, Chief Engineer of Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (HPPCL). He said that the state government would not go in appeal against the Himachal High Court’s order of handing over the case to the CBI.
Sukhu, while addressing mediapersons here, said that Vimal Negi’s family had never approached him for a CBI inquiry, which he would have ordered “The state government will fully cooperate with the CBI and provide it every possible help to ensure that the aggrieved family gets justice,” he added.
Sukhu admitted that internal squabbling among top police officers was at play in the case. He said that the High Court was kept updated about the developments in the case. “I want to make it amply clear that any act of indiscipline by police officers will not be tolerated and after reviewing the situation, action will be taken against the erring officers,” he added.
About allegations levelled by Shimla SP Sanjeev Gandhi against the Chief Secretary, DGP, Additional Chief Secretary, two Deputy Commissioners, the Chief Minister said that he would take feedback and take then a decision.
Sukhu said, “Vimal Negi was posted in HP Power Corporation Ltd on June 15, 2024, so I don’t know within nine months what pressure he suffered. But I want to reiterate that our government wants that his family should get justice.” He added that BJP leaders, including Leader of the Opposition Jai Ram Thakur, were not concerned about the circumstances that led to Negi’s death, as they were interested only in politicising the issue to get political mileage.
He said, “It is but natural for Vimal Negi’s family to doubt investigations when three reports from three officers stated different facts. I even declined the advice of DGP Atul Verma that a new SIT be constituted and asked Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Onkar Sharma if he had incorporated the versions of the three officers against whom Negi’s family had made accusations.”
Sukhu admitted that the DGP and the Additional Chief Secretary had filed their affidavits in court without vetting by and the knowledge of the Advocate General.
Sukhu said that Jai Ram Thakur must talk on facts and not indulge in a media trial. “Complete details of allegations in the Pekhubela solar power plant, levelled by the BJP in December 2024, were placed in the Vidhan Sabha,” he added.
He also lashed at Rajya Sabha MP Harsh Mahajan for hatching a political conspiracy to destabilise the Himachal Government.
How many judges in High Court from HP: CM
I disagree with the observation of the judge that no officer from the Himachal cadre should be associated with the CBI probe. This puts a question mark even on the Himachal High Court as to how many judges there are from the state. We should avoid such kind of remarks. We all are bound by the law and it is the responsibility of each one of us to respect it. Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Chief Minister
Himachal Tribune