THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK
New Delhi, Feb 22: As part of its investigation into allegations of corruption in the awarding of a contract for a hydroelectric project in Jammu and Kashmir, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) raided over 30 locations on Thursday, including those connected to former governor of Jammu and Kashmir Satyapal Malik.
The case concerns purported corruption in the contract awarding process for the civil work associated with the Rs 2,200 crore Kiru Hydro Electric Power Project (HEP) in Kisthtwar in 2019.
Malik was Jammu and Kashmir’s governor from August 23, 2018, to October 30, 2019.
CBI recovered cash, documents, digital devices in earlier raid
Earlier this year, searches were carried out at approximately eight locations in Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir on January 29 by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is conducting ongoing investigations into a case pertaining to purported irregularities in the awarding of tender for civil works of the Kiru Hydroelectric Project, which is being carried out by Chenab Valley Power Projects Private Limited.
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The agency stated that the searches resulted in the retrieval of digital devices, computers, property papers, and “incriminating” documents, along with cash totalling over approximately Rs 21 lakhs.
The CBI stated that there were allegations that e-tendering standards were not adhered to in the awarding of civil works related to the Kiru Hydroelectric Project.
The CBI also searched six locations in Delhi, Noida, Chandigarh and Shimla in December of last year.
Hospitalized Malik denounces govt raids as dictatorial
Malik, currently hospitalized, slammed the raids on his residence by government agencies on social media platform X, alleging dictatorial actions and unnecessary harassment of his driver and assistant.Top of Form
“I have been ill for the last three to four days and am admitted to the hospital. Despite this, my house is being raided by the dictator through government agencies. My driver and my assistant are also being raided and harassed unnecessarily,” Malik stated in a post on X.
“I am a farmer’s son, I will not be afraid of these raids. I am with the farmers,” he added.
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