CBI raids J&K ex-Governor Satya Pal Malik’s premises in Kiru hydroelectric project case

CBI raids J&K ex-Governor Satya Pal Malik’s premises in Kiru hydroelectric project case

Multiple teams of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday began raids in 30 places, including three premises of former Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik in Delhi, Gurugram and Uttar Pradesh’s Baghpat, during its probe into alleged corruption in the awarding of a contract for a hydel project in the Union Territory.

“All coordinated and conducted raids in eight States/UTs; Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi, UP, Haryana, Mumbai, Bihar, and Rajasthan. There are three places in Delhi, Gurugram and Uttar Pradesh’s Baghpat belonging to Malik. Some of the other places belong to his associates also and some other associates of the accused include IAS officer Naveen Choudhary, the then chairman of CVPPPL; MD MS Babu; Directors M K Mittal and Arun Mishra,” a source said.

Last year, Malik had claimed that the Pulwama terror attack in February 2019 could have been averted had the Centre not turned down a request for aircraft to move Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel.

Malik was last year questioned by the CBI after the agency registered the cases in April 2022 regarding purported irregularities in two projects in Jammu and Kashmir when he was the Governor there. “CBI had registered two separate cases on the request from Jammu & Kashmir Government on the allegations of malpractices (I) in award of contract of J&K Employees Health Care Insurance Scheme to private company & 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 crore 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 announced that 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 Kiru Hydel Project, the CBI FIR said that an investigation had been conducted by the J&K ACB and the power department in the matter. “Perusal of these reports reveals that in 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, 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 cancelled in the 47th Board Meeting of the CVPPPL, but was revived in the 48th Board Meeting and awarded to Patel Engineering.

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