CBI raids J&K ex-Governor Satya Pal Malik’s house in hydel project ‘corruption’ case

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 22

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday raided the Delhi house of former J&K Governor Satya Pal Malik in connection with the Kiru hydropower project corruption case. The agency conducted searches at more than 30 locations in eight states in an ongoing investigation of a case pertaining to allegations of irregularities in the award of civil works of Kiru hydroelectric power project in J&K, being executed by Chenab Valley Power Projects (P) Ltd (CVPPPL), sources said.

These searches took place in various locations, including Jammu, Srinagar, Delhi, Gurugram, Mumbai, Baghpat, Noida, Patna, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Barmer, Nagaur and Chandigarh, the agency stated. The case was registered on February 20, 2022 against officials of the CVPPPL, a private company, and a few unidentified. It was alleged that in the award of civil works relating to the Kiru hydroelectric project, guidelines regarding e-tendering were not followed. It was also alleged that though a decision was taken in the 47th board meeting of the CVPPPL for re-tender through e-tendering with reverse auction, after cancellation of ongoing tendering process, the same was not implemented and the decision of 47th board meeting was reversed in the 48th board meeting. During searches, evidence of huge cash deposits, investment in fixed deposits, investment in properties in various cities, digital and documentary evidence have been seized. The investigation is going on in the matter. The J&K administration had in 2022 asked for a CBI probe into alleged malpractices — flagged earlier by Satya Pal Malik — in the award of two government contracts, for which he had last year claimed that he was offered Rs 300 crore as bribe during his stint as J&K Governor.

Meanwhile, the senior leader, in a series of tweets in the morning, said he was unwell and hospitalised, yet his residence was being raided by central agencies on the order of a “dictator”. Even his driver and assistant were raided, Malik said further.

He however added that he was a son of a farmer and he won’t be fazed by the raids, while reiterating his support to the ongoing farmers’ agitation. Malik further said that instead of investigating those whom he had named in the matter, the CBI was raiding his premises. “Apart from a few pairs of kurta pyjamas, they will not find anything. The dictator is trying to pressurise me by misusing central agencies, but I am a farmer’s son and I will not be afraid,” he said.

Malik ‘Unfazed’

• Former Governor Satya Pal Malik posts on X that he is hospitalised, yet his residence is being raided by central agencies on the order of a “dictator”.
• Claiming that he is unfazed, he adds that even his driver and assistant have been raided.
• Apart from a few pairs of kurta pyjamas, they will not find anything, Malik asserts.

30 locations in eight states searched

• The central agency searched more than 30 locations in eight states in connection with the probe into a case pertaining to “irregularities” in the award of civil works of Kiru hydroelectric power project in J&K.
• Evidence related to cash deposits, investment in properties, etc. have been seized.

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#Central Bureau of Investigation CBI #Satya Pal Malik