Former J&K governor Satyapal Malik booked by CBI in Kiru Hydropower Project corruption case

STC NEWS DESK
SRINAGAR, MAY 22 (STC): Former Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satyapal Malik has been booked by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in an alleged corruption case linked to the Rs 2,200-crore civil works contract for the Kiru Hydropower Project, says a report.
The report further says that the investigating agency has filed a chargesheet against five others in connection with the said case.
According to the report, the chargesheet, filed before a special court after a three-year investigation, also names former officials of Chenab Valley Power Projects Private Limited (CVPPPL) — Navin Kumar Choudhary, M S Babu, M K Mittal, and Arun Kumar Mishra — along with Patel Engineering Limited.
It’s worth mentioning that the case involves alleged irregularities in awarding the contract in 2019. The CBI stated that while the CVPPPL board had recommended a re-tender through reverse auction, the contract was instead awarded to Patel Engineering, ignoring that decision.
Notably, searches were earlier conducted at Malik’s premises in February last year. Malik, who served as J&K Governor from August 2018 to October 2019, had claimed he was offered a Rs 300-crore bribe to approve project files. He denied any wrongdoing and accused the agency of targeting him.
Currently hospitalised, Malik said on Thursday he was unable to respond to calls and messages from well-wishers. In a post on ‘X’, he thanked those reaching out.(STC)