Overview

• The CBI took over the inquiry into the suspicious March death of HPPCL chief engineer Vimal Negi after the Himachal Pradesh High Court ordered the transfer of the case on May 23.
• Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu directed Atul Verma, Additional Chief Secretary Onkar Sharma and Shimla SP Sanjeev Gandhi to proceed on leave on May 27 in response to conflicting reports filed in the case.
• Verma retired on May 31 without an official farewell parade and had his final order awarding DGP Disc honours to 172 officers revoked by acting DGP Ashok Tiwari.
• He defended the factual basis of his High Court affidavit in the abetment to suicide proceedings and declined to address the reasons for his leave directive.
• Shimla SP Sanjeev Gandhi accused Verma’s office staff of drug peddling, prompting Verma to seek Gandhi’s suspension.