Crucial Evidence Emerges in Himachal Pradesh Engineer's Mysterious Death Investigation

Investigation Intensifies into Vimal Negi's Death

Sunil Chadha
Shimla: A significant breakthrough has occurred in the case surrounding the mysterious death of Vimal Negi, the Chief Engineer of Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited. A device retrieved from the scene is now a key piece of evidence for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Currently, two teams from the CBI are examining both digital and physical evidence at the Shimla SP office, ramping up their investigation to determine if there were any shortcomings in the previous inquiry conducted by the Shimla police's special investigation team (SIT).

CBI Investigates Previous Findings

The CBI's preliminary findings are focused on identifying inconsistencies in the earlier investigation. Vimal Negi's body was discovered in Gobind Sagar Lake in Bilaspur on March 18, 2025, eight days after he was reported missing. The body was located in the Talai area of Bilaspur district. Sources indicate that the SIT, with assistance from local fishermen, recovered the body but allegedly mishandled critical evidence, including a pen drive found with the deceased.

The situation has become more complicated with reports that the pen drive was formatted, and there is no official explanation for this action. Questions remain about how many files were retrieved and how many were corrupted. These discrepancies have led the CBI to investigate whether standard procedures were adhered to during the recovery and examination of the body.

Digital Evidence and Call Records Under Review

A primary focus of the CBI's investigation is the call detail records (CDR) of the SIT officials involved in the case. By analyzing these communication logs, the agency aims to determine who was present at the scene when the body was found and whether the local police station was notified in a timely manner.

Additionally, investigators are assessing whether the forensic examination of the body complied with legal protocols. The agency is reconstructing the timeline of events using seized records, hoping to uncover any attempts to conceal or manipulate digital evidence.

CBI to Interview Vimal Negi’s Family

As part of its ongoing investigation, the CBI plans to interview Vimal Negi’s wife, Kiran Negi, later this week. Sources suggest that Negi’s brother was already questioned on Tuesday (June 3, 2025) to gather insights into the engineer’s activities and mental state leading up to his death.

Meanwhile, the two CBI teams stationed at the Grand Hotel in Shimla, which serves as their temporary office, are meticulously reviewing numerous documents and digital files obtained from the Shimla SP office. Their goal is to reconstruct the events leading to Negi’s death and ascertain whether there was negligence or intentional misconduct in the initial investigation.