Ex-Governor Malik's homes searched in corruption case

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday carried out searches at the premises of former Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik in a corruption case linked to the Kiru Hydroelectric Power Project, officials said.

The probe agency conducted searches at 30 locations, including Gurugram, Chandigarh, Patna, Delhi, Jodhpur, Barmer, Noida and Bagpat in connection with the case, sources said. In which eight premises are purportedly linked to Malik. These include three flats in Gurugram belonging to him and an apartment in Asiad Games Village in Delhi.

The case relates to alleged corruption in awarding civil works of the Kiru Hydro Electric Power Project (HEP) worth ₹ 2,200 crore, they said. CBI had registered a case in April 2022 against five individuals, including Mr Malik, in connection with alleged irregularities in awarding contracts for the projects.

Mr Malik, who was the governor of Jammu and Kashmir between August 23, 2018 and October 30, 2019 had claimed he was offered a ₹ 300-crore bribe for clearing two files, including the one pertaining to Kiru project.

Responding to the allegations, Satya Pal Malik, who has been admitted to the hospital for the past few days, stated, "Despite my illness, my residence is being raided by authoritarian forces. My driver and assistant are being needlessly harassed through these searches. I am not afraid of these raids; I stand with the farmers. These actions won't deter me, he added.

Malik is critical of PM Modi. He, even when he was governor, keeps charging serious allegations on centre government and its leadership.