Shimla, Nov. 1 -- Himachal Pradesh high court on Friday granted bail to assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Pankaj Sharma, arrested by CBI for alleged tampering with evidence linked to the mysterious death of Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (HPPCL) chief engineer Vimal Negi.

The court of justice Virender Singh, while allowing the bail plea on Friday, observed that "pre-trial punishment is prohibited under the law, as the applicant is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty". The high court issued directions to grant bail to Pankaj on furnishing personal bond in the sum of Rs.50,000, with one surety, in the like amount, to the satisfaction of the chief judicial magistrate, Shimla.

The court noted that the CBI had failed to justi...