In a dramatic turn of events in the ongoing Vimal Negi death case, the Himachal Pradesh government has taken stern action against top officials allegedly involved in the mishandling of the high-profile matter. Director General of Police (DGP) Atul Verma, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Onkar Sharma, and Shimla Superintendent of Police (SP) Sanjeev Gandhi have all been relieved of their responsibilities and sent on leave due to charges of indiscipline. The state government is likely to serve show-cause notices to the trio in the coming days.
The move follows strong public and judicial scrutiny over the lapses in the investigation into the death of Vimal Negi, a Chief Engineer at HP Power Corporation Limited, who mysteriously disappeared on March 10. His body was discovered eight days later in Gobind Sagar Lake, Bilaspur, sparking widespread outrage and suspicions over foul play. The Himachal Pradesh High Court had recently transferred the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), citing irregularities and based on a petition filed by Negi’s family.
While SP Sanjeev Gandhi has proceeded on medical leave, both DGP Atul Verma and ACS Onkar Sharma will also remain on leave until further notice. Notably, Verma is due to retire on May 31, and the additional charge of DGP has now been handed over to Ashok Tiwari, a 1993-batch IPS officer currently heading the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau. Solan SP Gaurav Singh, a 2013-batch IPS officer, has been given the additional charge of Shimla SP.
Complicating matters for DGP Verma is his controversial affidavit submitted to the High Court, in which he mentioned a missing and formatted pen drive—an item he admitted was never officially included in the case records. Legal experts suggest that this revelation may lead to a contentious legal battle, potentially affecting his post-retirement benefits, including pension. The situation is further inflamed by the fact that both Verma and Sharma are accused of submitting affidavits to the High Court without prior clearance from the Advocate General, a move that is considered a serious breach of protocol.
Onkar Sharma, who was leading the fact-finding committee into the Negi case, has now been stripped of all his portfolios, including the powerful Home and Revenue departments. These responsibilities have been reassigned to other senior officers in the administration.
Adding fuel to the fire, SP Sanjeev Gandhi had previously accused members of DGP Verma’s personal staff of being involved with a drug-peddling syndicate. This accusation led to a fierce backlash, with Verma reportedly recommending Gandhi’s suspension in response. The fallout from these internal clashes has further damaged the credibility of the state police force and raised troubling questions about internal corruption and accountability.
The developments in the Vimal Negi case underscore a deepening crisis of trust in the state’s administrative and law enforcement apparatus. With the CBI now at the helm of the investigation, all eyes are on what the central agency uncovers in the weeks to come. Meanwhile, the Himachal Pradesh government is under increasing pressure to ensure transparency and justice in a case that has rocked the state’s bureaucratic foundations.