The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed a chargesheet in connection with the mysterious death of former Chief Engineer of Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (HPPCL) Vimal Negi, in which it has alleged serious irregularities in Pekhubela Solar Power Project.
The CBI, during a recent hearing of the case, told the court that despite the work on the Pekhubela project being incomplete, documents were allegedly manipulated and a completion certificate was issued despite discrepancies between the actual progress of the project and the official records.
The agency further mentioned that senior officers of the corporation had allegedly bypassed rules to provide an undue benefit of approximately Rs 13 crore to the contractor of the project. It stated that Negi was being pressurised by the seniors, leading to significant mental distress.
The CBI told the court that senior officiers allegedly attempted to secure favourable comments and proposals from subordinate officers. It said there was evidence of abuse of official position, manipulation of documents and criminal conspiracy.
In its chargesheet, the agency also accused ASI Pankaj Sharma of tempering with a crucial evidence related to the case. The CBI stated that a pendrive containing important data was recovered by Sharma on the day Negi’s body was found at the bank of a lake in Bilaspur. It further alleged that the ASI took possession of the pendrive without informing anyone and later formatted it.
Negi, who went missing on March 10 from Shimla, was found dead at the bank of a lake in Bilaspur district on March 18. His death triggered widespread anger among his family members and employees of the corporation. Negi’s family had alleged mental harassment by senior officers as the reason behind his death.
The case was initially being investigated by the state police but was handed over to the CBI in May 2025 following a court order.
