Shimla, Mar 19 (PTI) A day after the body of the Chief Engineer of HPPCL was found in a dam in Himachal's Bilaspur district, his family, colleagues and friends staged a dharna outside the power corporation's office with the body, after refusing to perform the last rites alleging foul play in the death.
The protesters demanded a CBI inquiry into the case and the immediate suspension of senior officers who allegedly mentally harassed and pressured him to do "wrong" things.
Negi's wife said that it was "not a suicide but murder. "He was denied holidays and harassed even though he was unwell and his blood pressure was fluctuating," she added.
The protestors also raised slogans against the Managing Director Director (Electrical) of HPPCL.
A case under sections 108 (abetment to suicide) and 3 (5) joint criminal liability of BNS have been registered in New Shimla Police station here on the complaint of the engineer's wife, police said.
Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu informed the Vidhan Sabha that a probe by an officer of the additional chief secretary rank has been ordered. He said Negi's family had met him and that he had asked the director general of police to do a thorough investigation.
According to the order, Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue/Home) Onkar Sharma will submit a report in 15 days to ensure the credibility of the inquiry, HPPCL Managing Director Harikesh Meena and Director (Electrical) Desh Raj will not attend to their duties.
Raising the issue of the chief engineer's death in the assembly, Leader of the Opposition Jai Ram Thakur demanded a CBI enquiry into the case to ascertain if it was a murder or suicide.
"If the family gives their demand for a CBI probe in writing, we will talk to the Union government about it," the former CM said.
Thakur said that it was unfortunate that an honest and dedicated officer died and added that the investigative officers should be free from pressure.
The BJP leader said the engineer's family have named three officers and demanded their suspension. "I have asked the DC and SP to convey to the CM that the family members would get up (from the dharna) only after the officers were suspended.
He said the issue would be raised again in the Vidhan Sabha and that the opposition party would approach the governor over the issue.
Meanwhile, in a letter to the chief minister, a joint front of the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Employees and Engineers said that the circumstances surrounding Negi's death "raise serious concerns about potential mismanagement and undue pressure", noting that they have all been through "such pressure in the past two years".
They demanded an independent investigation into the matter and the immediate suspension of the current management of HPPCL.
Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi said extreme steps by a government officer under stress were a cause of concern and there is a need to prepare a standard operation procedure for working in government departments so that such incidents do not happen in future.
BJP leaders Rajinder Rana and former Chairman Surat Negi have demanded a CBI probe into the case. Talking to the media persons here Surat said that the law and order situation has deteriorated in the state. He said that Vimal Negi was compelled to commit suicide due to the pressure of his seniors to do immoral things.
BJP leaders Rajinder Rana and Surat Negi targeted the Congress government saying the the law and order situation has deteriorated in the state.
Demanding a CBI probe into the case, they said Negi was compelled to commit suicide due to the pressure of his seniors to do "immoral things".