Shimla, Sept. 16 -- A Chief Judicial Magistrate's Court in Shimla on Tuesday sent suspended Himachal Pradesh Police Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Pankaj Sharma to judicial custody till September 26 in connection with the death of Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (HPPCL) Chief Engineer Vimal Negi.

Sharma, arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on September 14, is facing allegations of tampering with prime evidence -- a pendrive belonging to Negi -- by concealing it and allegedly formatting its data.

During the hearing, the CBI sought further custodial interrogation, arguing that Sharma needed to be confronted with key witnesses and electronic evidence suspected to have been manipulated.

However, Sharma's defence...