Suspended Assistant Sub Inspector Pankaj Sharma, accused of tampering with evidence in the mysterious death of Vimal Negi, was sent to a one-day remand by a court on Monday.
Sharma, the first person to be arrested in the case by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), was produced before a Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM), which granted the agency custody for further questioning.
CBI Seeks Extended Custody, Granted One Day
Sources revealed that the CBI had sought a five-day remand to probe deeper into Sharma’s alleged role in manipulating crucial evidence, but the court approved only a one-day custody. The limited remand, however, underscores the seriousness of the case and the federal agency’s intent to interrogate the accused thoroughly.
Background
The case revolves around the death of Vimal Negi, the chief engineer of Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited, who went missing on March 10 and was later found dead on March 18 in the Shahtalai area near Gobind Sagar in Bilaspur district. The post-mortem report indicated that Negi had died approximately five days prior to the recovery of his body.
Negi’s wife, Kiran Negi, has alleged that he was subjected to harassment and torture by his superior officers for nearly six months, and that he faced verbal abuse as well. Initially investigated by a Special Investigation Team of the Himachal Pradesh Police, the case was later handed over to the CBI following a plea filed by Kiran Negi in the High Court, which directed the transfer on May 23, 2025.
Evidence Tampering Allegations Against Sharma
Pankaj Sharma’s arrest is a significant development in the case. He is accused of tampering with evidence, specifically by allegedly formatting a pen drive containing sensitive data related to Negi’s work and deleting important files. He was reportedly the first individual to recover the pen drive and other documents from Negi.
The CBI registered a case under Sections 108 and 3 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for abetment to suicide and has been interrogating numerous individuals involved, including Sharma. Statements from Negi’s family members have also been recorded as part of the investigation.
Sources further disclosed that Sharma’s interrogation has raised suspicions that he may have acted under the influence or instructions of higher authorities to manipulate data that could have linked them to wrongdoing.
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