Shimla, June 16 (UNI) The Himachal Pradesh High Court on Monday extended interim protection from arrest to IAS officer Harikesh Meena till July 14 in connection with the abetment to suicide case of HPPCL Chief Engineer Vimal Negi.

The decision came after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) orally requested more time to complete its review of the case and submit a detailed response to Meena’s bail plea.

The matter was heard in Court No. 8, where the counsel appearing for the CBI stated that the agency is currently in the process of collecting case records from various state agencies.

The CBI is analysing the material on a daily basis and, at this stage, is not in a position to provide a comprehensive reply. Without opposing the extension of interim relief, the CBI sought additional time to prepare its stand in the matter.

Accepting the oral request, the Court extended Meena’s protection from coercive action until the next date of hearing, which has now been fixed for July 14. The court also directed rectification of an error found in the memo of parties submitted by the petitioner’s counsel.

It is worth noting that neither the Special Investigation Team (SIT) — which was earlier probing the matter — nor the CBI, which took over the investigation on the directions of the High Court, has so far filed any plea seeking cancellation of interim bail granted to either Harikesh Meena or HPPCL Director (Electrical) Desh Raj.

Vimal Negi, who was working as Chief Engineer with the Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (HPPCL), went missing from the corporation’s headquarters in New Shimla on March 10. His body was later recovered from the Bhakra Dam on March 18. Allegations of workplace harassment by senior officials, including Meena and Desh Raj, led to the registration of an abetment to suicide case.

The next hearing is expected to be significant as the CBI may submit its final stand on Meena’s bail application.

UNI ML RN