The family of Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (HPPCL) chief engineer Vimal Negi, whose body was discovered under mysterious circumstances in Gobind Sagar Lake in Bilaspur district on March 18, has expressed deep dissatisfaction with the ongoing police investigation.
Negi had gone missing on March 10, and his body was recovered eight days later. In protest, the following day, his relatives staged a dharna outside the HPPCL office in Shimla, bringing his body along to demand justice.
Negi’s wife, Kiran Negi, has alleged that her husband had been subjected to prolonged mental harassment by senior officials within the HPPCL. She claimed that he was forced to work late into the night despite his poor health and had been mistreated over the past six months. According to her, this persistent harassment pushed him to the brink.
Following these allegations, the police registered a case under charges of abetment to suicide and joint criminal liability as per the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against the HPPCL’s managing director and the director (electrical).
However, the family has accused the police of failing to properly investigate those responsible for the alleged harassment. Instead of focusing on gathering evidence against the senior officials implicated in the case, the investigation, they claim, has veered toward probing Vimal Negi’s personal life, properties, bank accounts, and relationships.
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Surendra Negi, Vimal’s elder brother, criticised the police for their inaction since February 19, when the case was registered. He alleged that the authorities are deliberately trying to protect the accused by diverting attention from them. According to him and other family members, the investigation’s trajectory reflects a wider pattern of institutional cover-up.
The family also highlighted a culture of mistreatment within HPPCL, asserting that Vimal Negi had long been a victim of workplace harassment and humiliation, a fate allegedly shared by many junior staff members.
They said the police's approach has not only failed to deliver justice but has also severely undermined their trust in the state government and law enforcement agencies.
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