Supreme Court Grants Interim Relief to Desh Raj in Abetment to Suicide Case

In a significant development, the Supreme Court has granted interim relief to Desh Raj, who is accused in the abetment to suicide case of HPPCL GM Vimal Negi. Negi’s body was recently found in Govind Sagar Lake, Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh. The division bench, comprising Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah and Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra, has directed that no coercive steps be taken against Raj until the next hearing.

Desh Raj’s bail application, filed on April 1, 2025, was listed for motion hearing today. Although a detailed order is awaited, the Apex court has instructed restraint against any coercive action. Raj, a senior official at Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (HPPCL), was accused by Negi’s family of driving him to suicide. Advocate Astha Singh represented Raj during the proceedings.

The case has been adjourned to July 22, 2025, with interim protection remaining in force. Further details will be available once the full court order is issued. Negi’s death has led to serious allegations against HPPCL officials, with his family claiming workplace harassment pushed him to take this extreme step. The state’s response to the Supreme Court’s notice is still pending.