Shimla: The CBI probe into the last year’s death of a chief engineer at Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (HPPCL) has uncovered a “criminal conspiracy” involving his superiors to facilitate irregular clearances for the Rs 220-crore Pekhubela solar power project in Una district.Vimal Negi had gone missing from Shimla on March 10 last year and his body was recovered on March 18 from Satluj river in Bilaspur district. A medical board had confirmed the cause of death as “asphyxia due to ante-mortem drowning,” occurring between March 10 and 11, 2025.The chargesheet, submitted to the special CBI court in Shimla on March 31, mentions that managing director Harikesh Meena (IAS) and director (electrical) Desh Raj subjected Negi to “continuous harassment and illegal professional pressure,” creating a hostile environment that drove him to suicide.CBI also indicted ASI Pankaj Sharma, saying he misappropriated a pen drive recovered from Negi’s body and destroyed digital evidence to obstruct justice.While Sharma was arrested in Sept 2025 and later granted bail, Meena and Raj secured anticipatory bail from the high court and Supreme Court, respectively.The CBI has urged the court that Meena, Raj and Sharma should be summoned, tried and punished as per the law. The chargesheet reads, “From the facts and circumstances, it is clear Negi was under immense pressure and committed suicide due to frustration, humiliation, insult, pressure and abuse by accused Desh Raj and Harikesh Meena.”The 32 MW Pekhubela project, awarded to an Ahmedabad-based firm in May 2023, was plagued by missed deadlines.Following harassment allegations by Negi’s family after his death, the Himachal Pradesh high court had transferred the case from the Shimla police to the CBI on May 23, 2025, citing concerns over initial investigations.
