Death of chief engineer: ASI Pankaj sent to one-day CBI remand

In the case of Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Ltd (HPPCL) chief engineer Vimal Negi’s mysterious death, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday secured a one-day remand of Shimla Police ASI Pankaj from the court.

Pankaj, who was arrested by the CBI on Sunday, was produced before the CBI court in the state capital, where the Central agency sought five days’ custody. His counsel opposed the plea, following which the court, after hearing both sides, granted CBI custody till September 16.

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The agency will now produce Pankaj again in court on Tuesday, along with its report, which is being seen as significant in the progress of the investigation.

According to sources, Pankaj was arrested from his residence in Ghumarwin, Bilaspur, around noon on Sunday.

Later the same night, at about 11:45 pm, he was produced before the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) at the latter’s residence, where CBI secured his remand.

Officials indicated that tomorrow’s proceedings would be crucial in determining the direction of the case. So far, no other arrests have been made.

Meanwhile, a bail petition on behalf of Pankaj was also filed today.

Pankaj’s lawyer, senior advocate Piyush Verma, questioned why the CBI suddenly sought his arrest and custody when the matter related to his wife’s petition is still pending in the High Court. Pankaj is booked under 315, 238 read with 108, 61 (2) and 3 (5) of Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita. He is alleged to have canceled a pen drive during the recovery of Negi’s body on March 18. Later, the SIT constituted to investigate the case retrieved the pen drive and it is suspected of files being deleted.

Pankaj is considered a key link in the ongoing probe into the suspicious death of Chief Engineer Vimal Negi.

Vimal Negi who served as a chief engineer had gone missing on March 10, and his body was recovered 10 days later recovered from Gobind Sagar Lake Bilaspur. The family of the deceased had demanded a CBI probe.