Former Engineer Reveals Shocking Details Behind Mysterious Death of HPPCL Chief Engineer Vimal Negi
Sunil Grover talking to a journalist
Shimla, April 2: A former senior official of the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board has come forward with a series of explosive revelations regarding the mysterious death of Vimal Negi, the Chief Engineer of Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (HPPCL). The allegations have ignited widespread concerns about corporate corruption, workplace harassment, and financial mismanagement within the state’s power sector.
The All India Electrical Engineers Federation (AIPEF) has raised alarms over the circumstances surrounding the tragic death of Negi, who was found dead under suspicious circumstances, reportedly by suicide. The AIPEF is now calling for a thorough investigation into the matter and demanding severe punitive action against those responsible. They have specifically called for the dismissal of the officials they hold accountable, namely the Managing Director (MD) and Director (Electrical) of HPPCL, alongside the initiation of criminal proceedings.
In a scathing affidavit submitted to the Additional Chief Secretary (Home/Revenue) in Shimla, Sunil Grover, the former Managing Director of the Himachal Pradesh State Load Dispatch Centre (HPSLDC) and a patron of AIPEF, has provided startling details that suggest corporate corruption and workplace harassment as leading causes behind Negi’s tragic death. Grover, who has extensive experience in the state’s power sector, has pointed to an unbearable working environment that pushed Negi into a corner.
Grover claims that the MD and Director (Electrical) had exerted undue pressure on Negi, forcing him to sign off on fraudulent and incorrect documents, including those relating to major power projects under construction. Specifically, Grover highlighted massive financial discrepancies in two major projects: the 450 MW Shongtong Kadcham Hydropower Project in Kinnaur and the 32 MW Pekhubela Solar Power Project in Una district.
According to the affidavit, the Shongtong Kadcham project saw its costs artificially inflated, with the financial details manipulated to double the original projected costs. These alleged irregularities in the Detailed Project Report (DPR) have raised red flags among engineers, with accusations that funds were siphoned off through fraudulent activities.
Grover’s affidavit also claims that Negi had repeatedly raised concerns over these financial discrepancies, but his objections were ignored, and he was subjected to increasing pressure from top management to comply. It is alleged that these actions, coupled with a hostile work environment, created immense mental and emotional distress for Negi, leading to his untimely death.
The Vidyut Engineers Federation, representing power sector employees, has now demanded a full and transparent investigation into these corruption allegations. They have threatened to escalate the matter to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and provide all the evidence they have collected, if the government fails to act promptly.
The anger among electrical engineers and state employees is palpable, with many fearing that this tragic incident is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to corruption in the state’s power sector. In light of these allegations, AIPEF is calling for an independent high-level inquiry to look into the financial irregularities surrounding these major projects.
The union has been vocal in its demand for the immediate dismissal of the HPPCL MD and Director (Electrical), emphasizing that their actions, if true, are criminal in nature and warrant urgent legal proceedings. The call for justice in the case of Vimal Negi’s death has resonated deeply across the state, with many questioning the integrity of HPPCL’s leadership and the broader governance of the state’s power infrastructure.
As the investigation continues, the authorities face mounting pressure to address these serious claims of financial mismanagement and corporate misconduct. The outcome of this case may well serve as a turning point in the state’s fight against corruption within its public sector enterprises.
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