J&K: CBI raids ex-governor Satyapal Malik’s 30 premises in ‘corruption’ case
Virendra Pandit
New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday raided former Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satyapal Malik’s multiple premises in the Kiru hydroelectric project case on allegations of corruption, which he rejected.
In 2023, Malik claimed that the Pulwama terror attack in February 2019 could have been averted if the Centre had not turned down his request for aircraft to move CRPF personnel.
Ever since he was transferred from the border state in October 2019, the senior leader has been criticizing the Narendra Modi-led NDA government on various issues.
On October 14, 2023, Malik even gave an “interview” to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on these matters.
On Thursday, several teams of CBI officials began raids in 30 places, including three of his premises in Delhi, Gurugram, and Uttar Pradesh’s Baghpat, as part of an investigation into alleged corruption in the awarding of a contract for a hydel project in the Union Territory. The CBI also raided places in eight states and the UTs, including J&K, Haryana, Mumbai, Bihar, and Rajasthan.
Some of the other places belong to his associates also, including IAS officer Naveen Choudhary, according to reports.
After the agency registered the cases in April 2022 regarding purported irregularities in two projects in J&K when he was the Governor there, the CBI questioned him in 2023.
“The CBI had registered two separate cases on the request from J&K Government on the allegations of malpractices (I) in award of contract of J&K Employees Health Care Insurance Scheme to a private company and the release of Rs 60 crore (approximately) in the year 2017-18 and (II) award of the contract worth Rs 2,200 crore of civil works of Kiru Hydro Electric Power Project (HEP) to a private firm in the year 2019. So far, he was examined in the case as a witness in the cases,” a CBI official said.
In October 2021, Malik claimed he was offered Rs. 300 crores in bribes to clear two files, including one related to a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader. Based on this allegation, the CBI registered two cases in the matter and conducted searches at 14 locations. The agency booked Anil Ambani’s Reliance General Insurance Company (RGIC) and officials of Chenab Valley Power Projects Pvt Ltd (CVPPPL), among others, in the two cases.
J&K Lieutenant General Manoj Sinha said the allegations made by Malik were serious and that the administration had decided to hand over the probe in the case to the CBI.
In the case of the Kiru Hydel Project, the CBI’s FIR said an investigation had been conducted by the J&K ACB and the power department in the matter. “Perusal of these reports reveals that in the award of civil works package of Kiru Hydroelectric Power Project, guidelines regarding e-tendering were not followed, and though a decision was taken in the 47th Board Meeting of CVPPPL for re-tender through e-tendering with reverse auction, after cancellation of ongoing tendering process, the same was not implemented and the tender was finally awarded to M/s Patel Engineering,” the CBI FIR said.
The project, whose cost is estimated to be Rs 4,287 crore, has been marred by allegations of sub-standard work and its failure to provide jobs to local unemployed youth. The ACB probe into the matter observed that the project’s tender had been canceled in the 47th Board Meeting of the CVPPPL, but was revived in the 48th Board Meeting and awarded to Patel Engineering.
