BJP Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur Seeks Deep Probe into the Mysterious Death of HPPCL Chief Engineer Vimal Negi

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SHIMLA: Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur said, "The untimely demise of Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited’s Chief Engineer Shri Vimal Negi is extremely painful.

I extend my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family. May the Almighty grant peace to the departed soul and strength to the family to bear this irreparable loss."

"It is a matter of serious concern that the family of Late Vimal Negi has levelled grave allegations against senior officials of his corporation.

"I urge Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu to get these allegations thoroughly and impartially investigated", Thakur demanded in a post on social media.

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Shimla, April 17: The mysterious death of HPPCL Chief Engineer Vimal Negi has snowballed into a full-blown political and administrative storm, with mounting pressure on the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led Congress government to act against high-level officials allegedly linked to a corruption racket in the state-run Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (HPPCL).

Negi’s body was recovered from Bhakra Dam on March 18, days after he allegedly went missing. Initial claims of suicide have now been overshadowed by damning revelations from two key probes – one by the Special Investigation Team (SIT), and the other by a high-level administrative inquiry headed by Additional Chief Secretary Onkar Chand Sharma.

Both inquiries reportedly converge on a chilling common thread: unbearable pressure on Negi by top HPPCL brass to sign off on files linked to the 35 MW Pekhubela solar power project – a project now under the scanner for alleged massive irregularities.

According to SIT "findings" and Sharma Committee report submitted to CM Sukhu, the pressure came from none other than HPPCL Managing Director Harikesh Meena and Director Desraj – allegedly pushing Negi to sign documents he wasn’t comfortable with.

The documents, if signed, could have given post-facto approval to inflated project costs, facilitating kickbacks and favoring select contractors, sources familiar with the case claim.

The HPPCL MD, Meena, who chaired meetings both in Shimla and Delhi, is reportedly also under the lens in the controversial revision of costs in the 420 MW Shongtong Hydel Project, where an additional crores of rupees was allegedly cleared without adequate technical justification.

The Power Engineers’ Association too has raised alarm bells, demanding transparency and a thorough audit of project escalations.

Despite these red flags, only Desraj has been suspended so far — and even he managed to get interim relief from the Supreme Court until July.

Meanwhile, the Himachal High Court has granted a reprieve to Meena, rejecting SIT’s plea for custodial interrogation.

The move has further intensified public anger and frustration, especially from Negi’s family and civil society groups.

Kitan, Negi’s wife, supported by BJP leaders and local citizens, has been vociferously demanding a CBI inquiry, citing a clear conflict of interest if the probe remains in the hands of state agencies.

“This is not just about my husband. This is about systemic rot. He was an honest officer — pushed to his death for refusing to become part of a racket,” she told reporters.

The opposition BJP has also stepped up the heat, accusing the Sukhu government of shielding “big fish” in the name of procedural delays.

“This is no longer a case of one suspicious death — this is a state-sponsored cover-up,” said a BJP spokesperson.

With protests growing louder and citizens beginning to rally for justice, the ball is now in CM Sukhu’s court.

His government’s hesitation to suspend Meena or recommend a CBI probe is being seen as a lack of political will — or worse, complicity.

If action doesn’t come fast, this case might not just haunt HPPCL — it could snowball into a defining moment of accountability in Himachal’s governance.

News

HP Police Bust a Major Himachal- Punjab- Dubai Multi-Crore International Drug Racket in Kangra

Major Drug Trafficking Racket Busted in Himachal: ₹3 Crore Worth Heroin, Cash, and Gold Seized in Nurpur Crackdown

Shimla, April 17: In one of the biggest crackdowns against drug trafficking in recent times, Himachal Pradesh Police has unearthed an inter-state and international narcotics network operating out of Nurpur in Kangra district.

Acting on sustained intelligence inputs, the police recovered illegal assets worth nearly ₹3 crore, including ₹1.20 crore in cash, over 93 grams of gold, 262 grams of heroin (chitta), and multiple high-value documents.

Six accused have been arrested, with financial and communication links traced all the way to Dubai.

“This is a major breakthrough in our fight against narcotics. Himachal Pradesh Police is committed to dismantling such dangerous networks and ensuring that the state does not become a transit or consumer hub,” said Director General of Police, Himachal Pradesh.

He urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious drug-related activities.

Timeline of the Operation:

October 27, 2024: Damtal Police seized 262 grams of heroin near Indora Mod (NH-44) and arrested Kuldip Singh.

April 8, 2025: Rajesh Kumar arrested in Dharamshala.

April 13: Raj Kumar alias Sethi, a known offender, nabbed in Indora.

April 15: Balvinder Kohli arrested.

His disclosures led to recovery from Mohit Singh @ Tony in Pathankot: ₹4.90 lakh cash, 68g gold, 95g silver, mobile phones, and life insurance bonds worth ₹4.5 lakh.

April 16: ₹1.15 crore cash, 125g gold, and other assets recovered from Gagan Sarna’s residence in Pathankot.

April 17: Mohit Singh @ Tony arrested.

Total Recoveries So Far:

Heroin: 262 grams

Cash: ₹1,19,90,000

Gold: 92.93 grams

Silver: 99.45 grams

2 Mobile Phones, 2 Life Insurance Bonds

Bank Accounts Frozen: ₹52.52 lakh

2 Verna Cars, Property Documents Seized

The investigation also revealed that drug profits were invested in gold, luxury vehicles, life insurance, and real estate.

One of the accused, Balvinder Kohli, is the father of Vishal, the main accused in a 2023 NDPS case involving 131g heroin and ₹1.04 crore cash. Vishal is still absconding despite being granted bail by the Hon’ble High Court, Shimla.

Further investigation is underway, and more arrests and property attachments are likely as financial trails widen.

#HimachalPolice #DrugFreeIndia #NarcoticsCrackdown #InterStateRacketBusted

News

Chief Secretary Saxena Comes under Fire from Ex-IAS Officers and Citizens: CS Should Pay the HHH Bill from his Salary

Chief Secretary’s Party at Holiday Home Sparks Row: Will the Govt Foot the Bill or Will Saxena Pay Up?

75 Officers, Families Dined in Style – Now Citizens Want Accountability

Shimla | Himachal Pradesh Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena has landed in a fresh controversy — this time over a bill of Rs 1.22 lakh for a party he hosted at the state-run Holiday Home Hotel in Shimla.

The guest list included around 75 officers and their families, but the bill has been conveniently sent to the government for payment.

The Holiday Home, run by HPTDC, has already faced the ire of the High Court over pending dues and poor financial management.

But that hasn’t deterred senior bureaucrats from splurging taxpayer money on lavish get-togethers and freebies.

Retired IAS officers and citizens are up in arms, questioning why a private party should be billed to the state.

"If it was a personal event, the Chief Secretary should pay from his own pocket. Public money isn't for bureaucratic leisure," said a retired officer.

He reportedly tried to shield then HPPCL MD Harikesh Meena in the mysterious death case of HPPCL Chief Engineer Vimal Negi.

Saxena also eyed the RERA chair post, but was rejected due to his questionable past. Still, the Sukhvinder Sukhu government extended his tenure by six months, suggesting that he enjoys strong backing from the top.

Interestingly, his predecessor Shrikant Baldi had also faced public outrage for allegedly distributing apple cartons worth lakhs of rupees to friends across India—again, on the taxpayer’s dime.

Now the big question:

Will the Sukhu government clear the Rs 1.22 lakh bill for Saxena’s party? Or will the Chief Secretary be held accountable and made to pay from his own salary?

Either way, citizens are watching. After all, who paid for the party at Holiday Home – the government or the guest?

News

Army Chief Warns: India must Ready itself for New Type of War

Army Chief Warns: New Type of War is Already Here – India Must Be Ready Together

General Upendra Dwivedi speaks on “Hybrid & Grey Zone Warfare” at NIA HQ

New Delhi – India’s top army officer, General Upendra Dwivedi, met senior officers at the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in Delhi. The big topic?

A new type of war that doesn’t look like war — something called Hybrid and Grey Zone Warfare.

It’s not about tanks or bombs. It’s about sneaky tactics — like cyber attacks, fake news on social media, economic pressure, terrorist networks, and even using local protests or criminal gangs to disturb peace.

This kind of war is already happening, especially around India’s borders. And because it’s not a traditional war, it’s hard to stop or even see coming.

What did General Dwivedi say?

He said India needs to be ready, not just with soldiers, but with teamwork between the Army, police, cyber experts, and investigation agencies like NIA.

He called for stronger technology, better coordination, and faster sharing of information.

Why should you care?

Because this new war hits people directly — power grids, internet networks, mobile banking, social media — anything can be attacked. And it’s done in a way that no one takes direct blame.

The Army and NIA are now joining forces to tackle this together.

#GreyZoneWarfare

#HybridThreats

#IndianArmy

#NIA

#CyberSecurity

#FakeNewsAlert

#TechForDefence

#YearOfTechAbsorption

News

India Justice Report 2025: Himachal Climbs, Punjab Falters, Uttarakhand Struggles

India Justice Report 2025: Himachal Climbs, Punjab Falters on Prisons, Northeast Shows Promise — Uttarakhand Struggles Amid Rising Concerns

April 16, 2025

The India Justice Report (IJR) 2025 has offered fresh insights into how states are performing across the four pillars of justice—Police, Judiciary, Prisons, and Legal Aid. While some states like Himachal Pradesh and Sikkim show encouraging trends, others like Punjab and Uttarakhand reflect critical areas of concern

Himachal Pradesh: Steady and Improving

Himachal Pradesh ranked 2nd among the seven small states, making a notable improvement since IJR 2022, where it stood at 6th. The state performed especially well in legal aid and prison reforms, suggesting a sincere effort to enhance access to justice in remote regions.

Punjab: Strong Judiciary, Weak Prisons

Punjab secured 4th place among 18 large states, with top-three rankings in judiciary, police, and legal aid. However, it dropped to 16th in prison management, raising alarms over overcrowding, undertrial delays, and poor inmate rehabilitation efforts.

-Northeast: Sikkim Leads, AFSPA States Excluded

Sikkim topped the small states category, with top positions in police, judiciary, and legal aid, making it a justice delivery model for other hilly regions. Arunachal Pradesh and Tripura also made the top three.

However, Assam, Manipur, and Nagaland were excluded from rankings due to the continued presence of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), which limits independent assessment of policing and justice.

Uttarakhand: Troubling Signs in a Peaceful State

Uttarakhand, once considered a peaceful and law-abiding state, continues to underperform in justice delivery. In IJR 2022, it ranked 16th among 18 large and mid-sized states, trailing behind Bihar, Chhattisgarh, and Jharkhand—states typically associated with deeper governance challenges.

While its 2025 position has improved slightly, it still ranks in the bottom tier, reflecting persistent issues in police accountability, legal aid outreach, and overall infrastructure.

Anoop Nautiyal, founder of the Social Development for Communities Foundation, expressed deep concern over this downward trajectory:

> “This is not the Uttarakhand we knew. The rising tolerance for public aggression and violent rhetoric—often from influential quarters—has started eroding the very democratic values the state was built on. When law and justice take a backseat to fear and showmanship, it’s the common citizen who suffers.”

He added:

> “Improving in reports like the IJR isn’t just about numbers. It’s about how safe and fair people feel their state is.

That begins with accountability at the top, judicial efficiency at the grassroots, and a total rejection of violence in political discourse.”

The Road Ahead

As per the India Justice Report’s own recommendations, states need to:

Increase budgets for legal aid

Fill vacancies in police and judiciary

Upgrade infrastructure

Ensure time-bound justice for undertrials

Uttarakhand, Punjab, and others must now confront these challenges head-on—before public trust slips further.

Justice, after all, is not just about rankings—it’s about people feeling heard, protected, and treated fairly.

#JusticeDelayedIsJusticeDenied #ReformNow #IJR2025 #RuleOfLaw #DemocracyInAction

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BJP Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur Seeks Deep Probe into the Mysterious Death of HPPCL Chief Engineer Vimal Negi

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