Shimla Court Sends Suspended Himachal Police ASI Pankaj Sharma to Judicial Custody in Vimal Negi Death Case
In a key update to the mysterious death of Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (HPPCL) Chief Engineer Vimal Negi, a Shimla court has remanded suspended Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Pankaj Sharma to judicial custody until September 26. The Chief Judicial Magistrate Court made this decision on Tuesday, September 17, amid the ongoing CBI probe into Negi’s suspicious demise.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested Sharma, a Himachal Pradesh Police officer, on September 14. Officials accuse him of tampering with crucial evidence—a pendrive from Negi—by hiding it and possibly formatting its data. This arrest marks the first major breakthrough in the case, which has gripped Himachal Pradesh since Negi’s body was found.
During the court hearing, CBI lawyers pushed for more police custody time. They said Sharma needed to face key witnesses and check electronic evidence that might have been altered. But Sharma’s lawyer, Piyush Verma, fought back. He reminded the court that CBI had earlier told the Himachal Pradesh High Court, via an affidavit, that no custodial questioning was needed. Verma added that no new proof justified extending custody, and he also sought bail for his client.
The court turned down the bail plea and ordered judicial custody instead. This step highlights the deepening investigation into Negi’s death, which remains full of unanswered questions.
Vimal Negi, a senior HPPCL engineer, vanished on March 10, 2025. Search teams found his body eight days later, on March 18, in suspicious conditions. The post-mortem report showed he died about five days before discovery, sparking theories he might have been alive until March 13. The initial probe by Himachal Pradesh Police’s Special Investigation Team (SIT) hit roadblocks—they couldn’t track Negi’s movements from March 10 to 14. This led to sharp criticism of police lapses.
Frustrated with the delays, the Himachal Pradesh High Court stepped in on May 23, 2025, and handed the case to the CBI for a fresh, thorough look. Now, with Sharma in custody, investigators hope to uncover more clues in this high-profile Himachal Pradesh missing person and death mystery.
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