"We do not want politics over this": Himachal PWD Minister Vikramaditya Singh on Vimal Negi death case

Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], May 29 (ANI): Himachal Pradesh PWD Minister Vikramaditya Singh stated that the Vimal Negi case should not be used for politics.
He further added that the sole objective must be to ensure that Vimal Negi's family receives the justice they deserve. Singh's remarks come after the Himachal BJP Party submitted a memorandum on the Vimal Negi case.
Speaking to ANI on Wednesday, Vikramaditya Singh said, "I believe there is no justification or propriety in the memorandum submitted by the BJP to the Governor today. This is not merely the BJP's demand -- it is the demand of Vimal Negi's family that the case be transferred to the CBI. The High Court has already ordered this, and the CBI will now investigate the matter. The High Court's decision will not be challenged in any forum, whether through an LPA or an SLP. Secondly, once the CBI begins its inquiry, it will be fully supported in every way. We do not want politics over this issue. The sole objective must be to ensure that the family of the deceased, Vimal Negi, receives the justice they deserve."
Earlier on Wednesday, the Himachal BJP Party submitted a detailed memorandum to Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla, raising serious concerns over the suspicious death of Vimal Negi, Chief Engineer and General Manager of Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (HPPCL).
Addressing the media in Shimla after handing over the memorandum, former Chief Minister Jairam Thakur demanded justice for the Negi family.
"We have presented five key points before the Governor through the memorandum. Our primary demand is to ensure that there is no tampering or destruction of evidence in the Vimal Negi death case. It must be taken with utmost seriousness," Jairam Thakur said.
He alleged that officers were working against each other and said Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu should resign on moral grounds.
"The functioning of the government has collapsed. Officers are working against each other. MLAs don't trust the Chief Minister, and ministers have lost faith in him. In such a situation, this government has no moral right to stay in power. The Chief Minister must resign immediately on moral grounds," Thakur said.
He said that affidavits filed in the High Court, including those by the Director General of Police (DGP) and others, contain material suggesting "manipulation of evidence".
"Strict action must be taken against the officers involved, and we have urged the Governor to ensure this is done," he added.
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.
Vimal Negi had gone missing on March 10, and his body was recovered ten days later. His family and colleagues had earlier raised concerns about pressure at the workplace. After days of protest and search efforts led by IG Gyaneshwar Thakur, his body was finally recovered, leading to widespread outrage and demands for justice.
However, the Special Investigation Team (SIT), constituted by the state police, failed to provide any clarity about his whereabouts between March 10 and 14, raising serious questions about the credibility of the investigation. (ANI)