In HC affidavit, Himachal DGP questions SIT's impartiality

Court reserves judgment; AG throws weight behind Shimla SP-led probe team

- Shailee Dogra

SHIMLA: Director general of police Atul Verma, in an affidavit filed in the high court, raising questions on the "impartiality" of the special investigation team (SIT) probe into the death of Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (HPPCL) chief engineer-cum-general manager Vimal Negi.

However, the status report by Shimla superintendent of police (SP) Sanjeev Gandhi, the head of the SIT, claimed the probe was going ahead in an "utmost professional integrity and professionalism".

After the contrasting status reports, the Himachal Pradesh high court reserved the judgment on the petition seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe filed by Vimal's wife Kiran Negi.

Both the reports, filed on Tuesday, were made public on Wednesday.

Advocate general Anup Rattan, talking to media after the hearing, threw his weight behind the SIT even as he admitted there appeared to be "blame game".

In his status report, the DGP pointed out that a pen drive recovered from the Vimal Negi's body on March 18 was hidden and formatted by assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Pankaj.