Premium

Vimal Negi death case: HC grants bail to former MD of power corporation

Earlier, Supreme Court had allowed bail to another officer in this case

4 min readShimlaDec 24, 2025 08:38 PM IST

Haryana Civil Medical Services Association, HCMS, government health services shutdown,

The court held that the role allegedly played by petitioner Meena in the commission of the offence would be determined during the course of the trial

The Himachal Pradesh High Court Wednesday granted bail to 2012 batch IAS officer Harikesh Meena, former managing director of Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (HPPCL), in connection with the CBI case relating to the mysterious death of HPPCL chief engineer Vimal Negi.

The bail was granted by a single bench of Justice Virender Singh, making absolute the interim protection earlier extended to Meena on April 7, 2025. The high court also granted liberty to the CBI to seek cancellation of bail in case of any violation of the conditions.

While allowing the bail application, Justice Singh observed, “Although a valuable life has been lost, the applicant cannot be penalised at the pre-trial stage merely on that ground.” The court also noted that similar allegations had been levelled against a co-accused (Deshraj Singh) who has already been granted relief by the Supreme Court, and, therefore, parity also weighed in favour of the applicant.

The court held that the role allegedly played by petitioner Meena in the commission of the offence would be determined during the course of the trial. It observed that the likelihood of the trial commencing and concluding in the near future appeared remote, as the investigation is still ongoing. In such circumstances, the court ruled that no useful purpose would be served by dismissing the bail application, which would result in the judicial custody of the applicant.

Accordingly, the court ordered that Meena be released on bail in the event of his arrest in the case registered by the CBI. The case was earlier registered at New Shimla police station under sections 108 and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) on March 18. The court directed Meena to furnish a personal bond of Rs 50,000 with one surety of the like amount to the satisfaction of the investigating officer.

The bail has been granted subject to several conditions, including that Meena shall join the investigation as and when required, shall not leave India without prior permission of the court, shall not influence or threaten any witness, and shall regularly attend the trial court proceedings.

During the hearing, Meena contended that he is an IAS officer with deep roots in society and there is no apprehension of his fleeing from justice. He argued that to establish an offence under Section 108 of the BNS, there must be a clear overt act or direct or indirect instigation in close proximity to the alleged suicide, which, according to him, is absent in the present case. Meena also claimed that he had no direct supervisory role over the deceased, who was working under the Director (Electrical).

Story continues below this ad

It was submitted that Meena was not named in the FIR and had only received a notice under Section 35(3) of the BNSS to join the investigation. The defence also relied on the fact that the main accused, Director (Electrical) Desh Raj, had been granted protection and later bail by the Supreme Court, strengthening Meena’s plea on grounds of parity.

HPPCL chief engineer Negi had disappeared from Shimla on March 10. His body was found under mysterious circumstances on the banks of Gobind Sagar lake in Bilaspur district on March 18. The high court clarified that its observations are confined only to the disposal of the bail application and would not be construed as an expression of opinion on the merits of the case.

Saurabh Parashar

Saurabh Parashar is an Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, primarily responsible for the publication’s coverage of Himachal Pradesh. He is a seasoned journalist with over 17 years of experience in print media, specializing in crime, legal affairs, and investigative reporting. Professional Background Education: He holds a Master’s degree in Mass Communication from Guru Jambheshwar University of Science & Technology (Hisar) and a Law degree from Himachal Pradesh University (HPU), Shimla. This legal background significantly informs his reporting on complex judicial and administrative matters. Career Path: Before joining The Indian Express in 2017, he spent 12 years with The Times of India. Core Beats: His primary focus is the socio-political landscape of the hill state, with a specific emphasis on the environment, forest conservation, drug menace (specifically "Chitta"), affairs related to tribal and archaeology and the unique challenges of governance in high-altitude regions. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His recent reporting highlights the critical intersection of policy, law, and social safety in Himachal Pradesh: 1. "Himachal’s battle against Chitta: Why the border areas are most vulnerable" (Late 2025): An investigative look at the transit routes from Punjab and the impact on local youth. 2. "Shimla ropeway clears key hurdle as 820 trees face the axe :According to the Forest Survey of India’s 2021 assessment, 47.21 percent of Shimla’s 5,131 sq km geographical area is under forest cover (Nov 17, 2025). 3. "Himachal to handover 2.7427 ha of non-forest land for Shimla Ropeway: Given the land’s non-forest nature, RTDC and the state will not require permission from MoEFCC" (Nov 18, 2025) 4. "How the centuries-old Jodidara tradition is fading in Himachal’s Trans-Giri region: Jodidara: a form of fraternal polyandry—has long been part of Hatti tribal culture in the Trans-Giri region of Himachal Pradesh and adjoining Uttarakhand. It is believed to have evolved to prevent division of ancestral land and maintain unity among brothers in the harsh, mountainous terrain" (Aug 18, 2025) Legal & Agricultural Affairs "Kisan Sabha hails SC’s setting aside Himachal HC order to remove orchards from forest land" (Dec 18, 2025): Covering a major Supreme Court victory for farmers, where a High Court order to remove fruit-bearing apple orchards was overturned. "Himachal Cabinet nod to new tourism policy; focus on home-stays in tribal areas" (Dec 11, 2025): Detailing the legislative push to decentralize tourism and bring economic benefits to Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur. 3. Governance & Environment "Forest rights and development: Why Himachal is seeking more leeway from Centre" (Dec 19, 2025): Reporting on the legal hurdles faced by the state in infrastructure projects due to the Forest Conservation Act. "Cloudbursts and resilience: How Himachal’s remote villages are building back better" (Nov 2025): Following up on the long-term rehabilitation efforts after monsoon-related disasters. Crime especially cyber crimes, crypto currency etc: crypto currency: "Agents in uniform, motivational speeches, lavish parties: How a Himachal crypto con went unnoticed:A serial conman, a ‘Nelson Mandela Nobel Peace Award winner', and retired policemen got together to pull off a Rs 1,740-crore fraud" (Nov 10, 2023) Signature Beats Saurabh is recognized for his tenacious reporting on the state's drug epidemic. His deep familiarity with the topography and tribal culture of Himachal allows him to report from remote locations like Spiti, Pangi, Shillai, which are often overlooked by national media. His legal expertise makes him a primary choice for covering the Himachal Pradesh High Court on issues ranging from local body elections to environmental PILs. X (Twitter): @saurabh_prashar . ... Read More

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram

Loading Taboola...