Shimla SP Appeals High Court's CBI Probe Decision in Vimal Negi Case

Shimla SP Challenges High Court's Ruling

Sunil Chadha
Shimla: Recently, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu expressed his commitment to fully cooperate with the CBI investigation into the death of Vimal Negi. However, the Superintendent of Police in Shimla has lodged an appeal against the High Court's ruling that assigned the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation.

The Shimla SP's appeal contests the decision made by a single-judge bench of the High Court, seeking a fresh hearing by a division bench. As of now, the High Court has not formally accepted the appeal due to several noted deficiencies.

One significant issue raised was that the appeal was submitted in the officer's official capacity without going through the Advocate General’s office. Additionally, some pages of the document were reportedly unclear, and other procedural errors were identified. The appellant has been granted time to rectify these issues and resubmit the petition.

Political Fallout from the Appeal

This development has sparked a political uproar, with the BJP accusing the Congress-led government of attempting to obstruct the investigation and protect those responsible.

BJP Leader of Opposition and former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur stated, “This action contradicts Chief Minister Sukhu’s earlier assurance that the state government would not contest the High Court's decision and would fully support the CBI.”

In response, Sukhu has criticized the BJP for politicizing the situation, asserting that no family member of Vimal Negi had requested a CBI inquiry directly.

Allegations of a Cover-Up

Jai Ram accused the Congress government of a coordinated effort to undermine the High Court's order. He claimed, “The government is panicking, fearing that the CBI investigation will reveal significant corruption. This appeal by the Shimla SP, likely with the Chief Minister's silent approval, is a desperate attempt to derail the inquiry.”

He further pointed out that the appeal was filed without proper routing through the Advocate General’s office, indicating administrative chaos and an intentional effort to evade scrutiny. He questioned why CM Sukhu had not taken action against the SP for what he termed a “clear act of insubordination.”

Jai Ram also highlighted previous incidents in the investigation, such as the alleged deletion of digital evidence by police, which has led to public distrust and calls for an independent investigation.

CM Sukhu Addresses Concerns

During a press conference, CM Sukhu acknowledged “internal conflicts” among senior police officials and warned of disciplinary measures against any officer found guilty of misconduct. He denied any intention to obstruct the CBI investigation, stating, “Our government is dedicated to ensuring justice for Vimal Negi’s family. Any officer breaching protocols will face consequences.”

Sukhu reiterated that Vimal Negi’s family had not personally requested a CBI inquiry but emphasized his administration's readiness to cooperate. He criticized the opposition for leveraging the issue for political gain and affirmed his government's commitment to transparency.

Vimal Negi, a Chief Engineer, went missing under suspicious circumstances on March 10, with his body discovered in Gobind Sagar Lake on March 18. His family accused two officials of mental harassment, leading to widespread demands for a CBI investigation and the High Court's decision to transfer the case out of state jurisdiction.