HPPCL chief engineer death case: Shimla SP moves HC against CBI probe order, says ‘my professional integrity has been tarnished’

Gandhi stated, “The LPA appeal is being filed in personal capacity being aggrieved on account of the opinion, findings derived on the basis of affidavits of the respondents, specifically respondent number 3 (DGP) in the petition whereby the impugned judgement was passed by the single judge bench. Applicant feeling aggrieved and dissatisfied with the judgement dated May 23 begs to prefer the present LPA on the following amongst other grounds, the professional integrity has been tarnished, thereby findings are such SIT-2 held erroneous for ill-founded reasons facts qua such were misrepresented in such manner caused grave injustice, needs to be redressed urgently, in the impugned judgment arbitrarily assumed the suspicion about the professional integrity thereon adverse findings affected the reputation, so much so under particular design being targeted personally, there are well-founded reasons, if not redressed every likelihood of being falsely implication, penalization the remarks in the impugned judgement are unfair caused immense damage to the reputation, professional integrity as well…”

Gandhi, thus, prayed, “…the LPA kindly be allowed and the impugned judgment May 23 kindly to be ordered to modified to the extent that instead of handing over the probe to CBI the same may very be kindly be ordered to be handed over to any Special Investigation Team being constituted by the honourable Himachal Pradesh high court rather handing over the CBI or any central agency which is under the control of Union of India, in order to avoid any conflict of interest…”

Gandhi further stated, “The affidavit filed by the then director general of police (DGP) Atul Verma was ‘ulteriorly motivated’; therefore, the scathing observation qua the investigation based upon the said affidavit may also be very kindly set aside.”

The LPA further states, “It is pertinent to mention the incident of gas blast in the middle Bazaar Himachal Rasaoi Restaurant. This was an incident qua LPG gas blast, but in a very shocking manner, the then DGP Himachal Pradesh and officers who remained on the central deputation called the teams of National Security Guard (NSG). The NSG affirmed the presence of RDX in the above-mentioned blast. So much so, the then DGP Himachal issued a letter dated August 10, 2023, mentioning the action: SP Shimla and Shimla police on the border for criminal conspiracy and to destroy the evidence. This was affirmative action on the part of the then DGP and other officers, who are still serving in the police headquarters, to implicate the officers of Shimla police, including the applicant.”

The LPA further states, “The above-mentioned facts ipso facto qua the ill-will and malignant proclivities towards the applicant (Sanjeev Gandhi) to which extent harboured by the superior officers, such engagement of the central forces.”

Gandhi, a 1992-batch IPS officer, filed the LPA in his personal capacity on Monday, and it was accepted for listing on Tuesday.

Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (HPPCL) chief engineer Vimal Negi had gone missing on March 10, and his body was found on March 18 under mysterious circumstances in Bilaspur district.

The chief engineer’s wife Kiran Negi alleged that his seniors harassed him and demanded a CBI probe into his death. Family members protested by placing the engineer’s body outside the HPPCL office in Shimla on March 19.

On May 23, the high court transferred the Vimal Negi death case to the CBI after the former DGP submitted a status report in the court, questioning the impartiality of the probe by the SIT headed by Gandhi.

On May 29, the state government asked DGP Atul Verma, Shimla SP Gandhi and Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Onkar Sharma to proceed on leave.
Atul Verma retired on May 31, while Gandhi is on medical leave.

Gandhi further stated in his LPA that during the investigation, “a black diary of Vimal Negi was found, mentioning the name of ACS Onkar Sharma”.
Gandhi named the ACS, the HPPCL, the DGP, the CBI, the Union of India and Kiran Negi as respondents.

The CBI has undertaken an investigation into the Negi death case after registering a fresh FIR at their Delhi headquarters. A four-member CBI team has visited Shimla and has been recording the statements of family members of Vimal Negi and others.