In New Delhi, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducted extensive searches on Thursday at the residences of the former Jammu and Kashmir Governor, Satya Pal Malik, and 29 other locations in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR). This operation is a response to the ongoing corruption case related to the Kiru Hydro Electric Project.

The CBI initiated its search operation early in the morning, deploying approximately 100 officers to raid 30 locations across multiple cities. The focus of the investigation is on alleged corruption in the allocation of civil works for the Kiru Hydro Electric Power Project (HEP), valued at Rs 2,200 crore.

Confirming the raids, Malik utilized his official communication platform, expressing, “I have been unwell for the past 3-4 days and am currently hospitalized. Despite my health condition, my residence is being subjected to searches by the authorities through government agencies. Both my driver and assistant are also facing unnecessary scrutiny and harassment.” He asserted his resilience, stating, “As a farmer’s son, I will not succumb to fear in the face of these raids. I stand in solidarity with the farmers – Satyapal Malik (former governor).”

Malik further claimed that an alleged bribe of approximately Rs 300 crore was offered to him to expedite the clearance of two files, including one related to the aforementioned project. The CBI had earlier confirmed, “The case was registered based on allegations of malpractices in the award of the contract worth approximately Rs 2,200 crore for civil works of the Kiru Hydro Electric Power Project (HEP) to a private company in 2019.”

Additionally, the CBI has implicated former chairman of Chenab Valley Power Projects (P) Ltd., Navin Kumar Chaudhary, along with other former officials, namely M S Babu, M K Mittal, Arun Kumar Mishra, and Patel Engineering Ltd.

The FIR highlighted, “Although a decision was made during the 47th Board meeting of CVPPPL (Chenab Valley Power Projects (P) Ltd.) to re-tender through e-tendering with reverse auction after the cancellation of the ongoing tendering process, the same was not implemented (as per the decision taken in the 48th board meeting), and the tender was ultimately awarded to Patel Engineering Ltd.”

Notably, the agency had previously conducted searches at the residences of five individuals in January in connection with this case.