CBI raids former J&K Governor Satyapal Pal Malik's premises in hydel project case

CBI raids former J&K Governor Satyapal Pal Malik’s premises in hydel project case

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday conducted raids at several locations, including premises linked to former Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satyapal Malik in hydel project case.

Malik, a former BJP leader, has been criticising the Narendra Modi government over several issues. He had also alleged that the Modi government fought the 2019 Lok Sabha elections on bodies of our soldiers and claimed he was asked to keep quiet when he sought investigation into the Pulwama attack.

He had also attacked the Modi government over Wednesday’s killing of a protesting farmer at Khanauri border in Punjab during their ‘Delhi Chalo’ protest march.

Reacting to the raids, Malik said he is not scared of these raids and will continue to stand with the farmers of the country.

“I have been ill for the last 3-4 days and am admitted to the hospital. Despite this, my house is being raided by the dictator through government agencies. My driver and my assistant are also being raided and harassed unnecessarily. I am a farmer’s son, I will not be afraid of these raids. I am with the farmers,” Malik wrote on ‘X’.

The hydel project case pertains to the alleged corruption in awarding contract of the Kiru Hydro Electric Power Project (HEP) worth Rs 2,200 crore.

Interestingly, Malik, who served as the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir between August 2018 and October 2019, had claimed that he was offered Rs 300-crore bribe for clearing files, including one related to the Kiru project.

Following Malik’s claims, the CBI had launched an investigation and conducted searches at several locations in Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir last month.

The central probe agency claimed it recovered incriminating documents and cash of over Rs 21 lakh during the raids.