New Delhi, 22-02-2024 : The sprawling saga of alleged corruption surrounding the Kiru Hydropower project has taken yet another dramatic turn as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) initiated a series of searches at 30 locations, including the residences of former Jammu and Kashmir governor Satya Pal Malik. The investigation, unfolding across Jammu, Srinagar, Delhi, and various other cities, involves around 100 officers meticulously scouring for evidence related to the purported Rs 2,200-crore scandal.
In a synchronized operation that commenced in the early hours, the CBI meticulously combed through properties, unearthing a plethora of incriminating materials. These findings spanned from substantial cash deposits to investments in fixed assets and properties scattered across different cities. The sweep also yielded a treasure trove of digital and documentary evidence, painting a vivid picture of alleged malfeasance.
Among the targeted locations were properties linked to Satya Pal Malik, strategically located in R K Puram, Dwarka, and the Asian Games Village in Delhi, as well as those in Gurugram and Baghpat. Furthermore, the investigation extended its reach to include premises associated with Malik’s alleged cohorts, as well as individuals connected to the former chairman of Chenab Valley Power Projects Private Limited, Navin Kumar Chaudhary, and officials from Patel Engineering Limited.
Amidst this storm of allegations, Satya Pal Malik, currently recuperating in the hospital, took to social media to decry the raids as an act of intimidation orchestrated by the powers-that-be. In a defiant stance, he proclaimed his resilience, invoking his humble origins as a farmer’s son and vowing not to succumb to pressure. Emphatically, he denounced the raids as a futile endeavor, predicting that the investigators would find nothing substantial beyond a few articles of clothing.
At the heart of this labyrinthine scandal lies the contentious awarding of a civil-work contract pertaining to the Kiru Hydro Electric Power Project, valued at a staggering Rs 2,200 crore. Malik himself had earlier alleged being offered a hefty bribe to expedite the approval process for crucial files related to the project. The CBI’s subsequent investigation, culminating in the registration of the case in April 2022, has implicated a slew of prominent figures, including Navin Kumar Chaudhary and former officials of Chenab Valley Power Projects Private Limited, along with Patel Engineering Limited.
The FIR filed in connection with the case paints a damning picture of systemic malpractice, alleging deviations from prescribed procedures in the tendering process. Despite decisions made within the board of Chenab Valley Power Projects Private Limited to re-tender the project through e-tendering with reverse auction, the implementation of these decisions was allegedly stalled, ultimately leading to the contract being awarded to Patel Engineering Limited.
#KiruHydropower #CBIInvestigation #CorruptionProbe #SatyaPalMalik #JammuAndKashmir #InfrastructureScandal #PowerProjectCorruption #GovernmentMisconduct #LegalAction #TransparencyMatters