Shimla, May 23 (PTI) The Himachal Pradesh High Court on Friday ordered transfer of the probe into the death of state Power Corporation Limited chief engineer Vimal Negi, whose body was found under mysterious circumstances in a lake on March 18, to the CBI.

A single bench of Justice Ajay Goyal which had reserved its judgement in the case on Wednesday, accepted a petition filed by Negi’s wife and ordered transfer of the investigation to the CBI.

“The court is of the considered view that in this case, there is an exceptional situation which requires that the matter be investigated by the CBI as the Director General of Police has raised grave concerns about the mode and manner in which the investigation is being carried out in his status report,” the bench said.

A Special Investigation Team, constituted under the supervision of Superintendent of Police, Shimla, through Advocate General, raised questions over the authority of the DGP to doubt its probe, it said.

The report of the inquiry conducted by an officer of the rank of Additional Chief Secretary (Home) has not seen the light of the day. This inquiry report casts serious aspersions on the conduct of the superior officers of Negi and raises fingers on the impropriety exercised by them to allegedly confer favours over a project proponent, it added.

The affidavit of the Superintendent of Police, Shimla demonstrates that no concrete inquiry in this regard has been made by the SIT till date suspicious circumstances, the court said.

Therefore, to give credence to the investigation so that the matter is investigated impartially, this court allows this petition and directs that the investigation in the matter be handed over to the CBI by the state police, which shall carry out investigation in the matter, in accordance with law, the bench said.

In the course of conduct of the investigation, the CBI shall ensure that no officer from the Himachal Pradesh cadre shall be a part of the Special Investigation Team that may be constituted by it, for investigation, Justice Goyal said.

Negi went missing on March 10 and his body was found on March 18.

His wife alleged that he was tortured by his superior officials for the past six months, who also misbehaved with him.

She also alleged that her husband was forced to work till late at night even when he was ill.

Appearing for the state, Advocate General Anup Rattan said, “While we are not averse to any investigation by any party, the probe carried out by the SIT was fair and transparent. As of now, we will not file an appeal challenging the (high court) order.” During the hearing on Wednesday, DGP Atul Verma raised questions on the impartiality of the probe by the SIT, even as Rattan defended the SIT investigation, saying it was being conducted properly without any bias.

Welcoming the court order, former chief minister and Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur and state BJP chief Rajiv Bindal said now the matter will be investigated impartially and the truth will come out.

After Negi was found dead, his family members sat on a dharna outside the Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited’s (HPPCL) office in Shimla with the body the next day, demanding a CBI inquiry into the matter.

Subsequently, a case of abetment to suicide and joint criminal liability under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) was registered against the director (electrical) and managing director of the HPPCL. PTI BPL ZMN