The Central Bureau of Investigation is conducting searches at the residence of former Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik and at other places related to him in connection with alleged corruption in Kiru Hydropower project. The agency is conducting searches at about 30 locations in multiple cities in connection with the case.
The agency started its operation in the morning with around 100 officers mobilised to swoop down at 30 locations in multiple cities, PTI reported. The CBI has registered a case alleging corruption in awarding civil contracts for Kiru hydropower project, worth Rs 2,200 crore.
Malik, who was the governor of Jammu and Kashmir between August 23, 2018, and October 30, 2019, had claimed he was offered Rs 300 crore as a bribe for clearing two files, including the one pertaining to the project. “The case was registered on allegations of malpractices in the award of the contract worth approximately Rs 2,200 crore of civil works of Kiru Hydro Electric Power Project(HEP) to a private company in 2019,” the CBI had earlier said.
The agency has booked former chairman of the Chenab Valley Power Projects (P) Ltd Navin Kumar Chaudhary and other former officials M.S. Babu, M.K. Mittal, and Arun Kumar Mishra, and Patel Engineering Ltd.
“Though a decision was taken in 47th Board meeting of CVPPPL (Chenab Valley Power Projects (P) Ltd) for re-tender through e-tendering with reverse auction after the cancellation of ongoing tendering process, same was not implemented (as per decision taken in 48th board meeting) and tender was finally awarded to Patel Engineering Ltd,” the FIR has alleged.
The agency had conducted searches at the premises of five people in January in connection with the case.
The former governor was earlier summoned by CBI in connection with an alleged insurance scam in the Union Territory. In April last year, the CBI lodged two FIRs over corruption allegations levelled by Malik in the awarding of contracts for a group medical insurance scheme for government employees and civil work worth Rs 2,200 crore related to the Kiru hydroelectric power project in Jammu and Kashmir.
The former governor was critical of the Modi government’s handling of issues facing Jammu and Kashmir. He also charged intelligence failure and security lapses led to the Pulwama attack.