"How many judges are from Himachal?": CM Sukhu shows reservation over high courts directions to exclude Himachal cadre officials in Vimal Negi case

Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], May 26 (ANI): Himachal Chief Minister, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, on Monday showed his reservation over the High Court's direction in the ongoing probe into the death of HPPCL engineer Vimal Negi.
Speaking to the media in Shimla, the Chief Minister expressed concern over the High Court's decision to direct that no official from the Himachal Pradesh cadre be included in the CBI team investigating the case.
He said that the state has no intention of challenging it in the double bench.
He said, "The viewpoint of the High Court has come into the case and has handed over the investigation to the CBI. The Himachal Pradesh government fully accepts the High Court's decision, and we will not file any appeal. We want Vimal Negi's family to get justice."
"But I do not agree with a comment by Justice Sahib that there should be no officer from Himachal. Whenever such an inquiry takes place, no officer from Himachal or any beneficiary can be involved, and it is a question mark in itself how many Judges are there in the Himachal High Court who are related to Himachal. This is a question mark and that is why I say that we should refrain such statements and comments," said CM Sukhu.
"That is why I am saying this. We are all bound by the law and function according to legal norms. It is our duty to follow the law. We have already made it clear that the Himachal Pradesh government will extend every possible support to the CBI in its investigation to ensure that justice is delivered to Vimal Negi's family. ," Said Sukhu
The Chief Minister made it clear that indiscipline in the government or police force will not be tolerated, adding that his government has already submitted key reports, including those from the state DGP, the SIT, and the Additional Chief Secretary, to the court.
He also said that CBI is free to investigate the reports of ACS, SP and the DGP.
"Indiscipline among officials will not be tolerated, no matter how senior they are," the Chief Minister said sternly.
Vimal Negi, an engineer with the Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (HPPCL), had joined the corporation on June 15, 2024. Just two weeks later, on July 1, 2024, he was reportedly under stress and receiving medical treatment for anxiety.
He subsequently went missing on March 10, 2024, from Shimla. After days of protest and search efforts led by IG Gyaneshwar Thakur, his body was finally recovered on March 18, 2025, in Bilaspur, leading to widespread outrage and demands for justice.
The family of the deceased alleged negligence, cover-up, and foul play. They even approached the courts demanding a CBI probe. Sukhu claimed the family was misled by BJP leaders into believing that the state government wouldn't act decisively.
"We did not wait for any request to begin the inquiry. The wife of Vimal Negi met me personally, and I immediately directed the DGP to act. Under IG Gyaneshwar Thakur, we recovered the body. We constituted a departmental and administrative committee suo motu, without waiting for any request or demand," CM Sukhu said.
He further stated that based on the family's demands, his government had suspended HPPCL Director Desh Raj and transferred the Managing Director.
"My colleague Jagat Negi had raised this strongly, and we took action swiftly. We even considered transferring the case to the CBI ourselves," Sukhu added.
Sukhu has raised serious accusations against the BJP, alleging that "they politicised a tragedy." Lashing out at the opposition, CM Sukhu accused the BJP of turning a sensitive issue into a political spectacle.
"The BJP has tried to give political colour to Vimal Negi's death and misled the grieving family for their own agenda. Their new MP, who himself is tainted by corruption, is now using this tragedy to mislead the public," he said.
He also challenged former CM Jai Ram Thakur to come forward with facts. "The person who made the allegations against HPPCL officials had himself approved payments. Shouldn't those officers be questioned too? BJP has no real sympathy with the family. They are just using the case for media trials," he said.
CM Sukhu confirmed that investigations had revealed a key piece of evidence, a pen drive, had been omitted but was later retrieved. He also acknowledged that internal conflict and "grudges" between police officers were reported, and a detailed affidavit on the same had been submitted by the DGP.
However, Sukhu also said that the state will not file any leave petition (LPA) application as the government is ready to cooperate with the Central Bureau of Investigation.
The Chief Minister stated that although his government will not appeal or file any LPA against the High Court's decision to hand the probe to the CBI, he took issue with the direction that no official from the Himachal cadre be included in the CBI team.
"Isn't it important to ask how many judges in the High Court are actually from Himachal Pradesh?" Sukhu questioned, adding that BJP leaders must now come forward and submit all relevant documents directly to the CBI instead of making public statements.
This marks a deepening standoff between the state executive and sections of the judiciary, as well as between the Congress-led government and the BJP over what has become one of the most politically sensitive and emotionally charged issues in recent memory in Himachal Pradesh. (ANI)