Kiru HEP project irregularities case | CBI conducts searches at more than 30 locations

Jammu, Feb 22:  Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Thursday conducted searches at more than 30 locations in eight states and Union Territories (UTs), including Jammu and Srinagar in J&K, in an on-going case of alleged irregularities in award of civil works of Kiru Hydro-Electric Power (HEP) project.

The project is being executed by Chenab Valley Power Projects Private Limited (CVPPPL) in Jammu & Kashmir.

According to the CBI spokesperson, these searches were conducted at various locations, including those in Jammu, Srinagar, Delhi, Gurugram, Mumbai, Baghpat, Noida, Patna, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Barmer, Nagaur and Chandigarh.

Reports said that the raids were also conducted in the house and other places linked to the former J&K Governor Satya Pal Malik, his assistant and driver as well.

This information was given by Malik himself through a post on ‘X’ while searches were being conducted.

CBI, in its official release issued this evening, however, did not give any details about the persons whose residential or official premises were searched.

“The instant case was registered on April 20, 2022 against officials of CVPPPL; a private company and unknown others.  It was alleged that in the award of civil works relating to Kiru Hydroelectric Project, guidelines regarding e-tendering were not followed. It was also alleged that though a decision was taken in 47th board meeting of CVPPPL for re-tender through e-tendering with reverse auction, after cancellation of ongoing tendering process, same was not implemented and the decision of 47th board meeting, was reversed in the 48th board meeting,” the CBI official release read, while giving a brief background of the case.

“During searches, evidence of huge cash deposits, investment in fixed deposits, investment in properties in various cities, digital and documentary evidence, etc. have been recovered. Investigation is continuing,” CBI spokesperson, in an official statement, said.

However, Malik, during the day, in a post on ‘X’ in Hindi, wrote, “For the past 3-4 days, I’ve been indisposed and I’m hospitalised. Still government agencies are being misused to conduct raids on my house. My driver and my assistant are also being harassed without any reason by conducting raids (on their premises). I’m a farmer’s son. I’ll not get intimidated. I’m with farmers.”

Prior to it, on January 27, the CBI had seized a cash of over Rs 21 lakh besides incriminating documents, digital devices etc during its raids at eight locations in Delhi and (Kishtwar in) Jammu and Kashmir in this case.

The raids, as per officials, were conducted by the premier investigative agency, as a part of its ongoing investigation in a case registered vide FIR/RC -0042022A0005 dated April 20, 2022 at ACB, CBI, Jammu, to probe into the allegations of “malpractices in award of the contract worth Rs 2200 Cr (approximately) of civil works of Kiru HEP project to a private company in the year 2019.”

According to the CBI, this case was registered on the basis of a reference received from the Government of J&K against the then Chairman; the then MD; the then Directors of CVPPPL; a private company and unknown others.  It was alleged that in the award of civil works relating to Kiru Hydroelectric Project, guidelines regarding e-tendering were not followed.

This was the sixth occasion when CBI conducted searches in this particular case as earlier raids were conducted immediately a day after the case was registered i.e., April 21, 2022 followed by July 6, 2022; May 17, December 2, 2023 searches and January 27, 2024.

On April 21, 2022, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had registered two separate cases against private companies and others, including a senior IAS officer, in alleged malpractices in awarding contracts for group medical insurance scheme for government employees and works related to Kiru Hydro Electric Power project in J&K.

In Kiru HEP project case, in its FIR/RC -0042022A0005 dated April 20, 2022 at ACB, CBI, Jammu, CBI mentioned that on March 23, 2022, it was conveyed the decision of government of J&K, for investigation by it into allegations of malpractices in award of contract, in respect of civil works of Kiru Hydroelectric Power Project, on the basis of reports of Anti Corruption Bureau, UT of J&K and Power Development Department, Government of J&K.

“In this case, the CBI booked Navin Kumar Choudhary IAS, who was the then chairman, CVPPPL; M S Babu the then MD CVPPPL; M K Mittal the then Director CVPPPL; Arun Kumar Mishra the then Director CVPPPL; M/s Patel Engineering Ltd and unknown others,” CBI FIR had read.

Case was registered against them u/s 120-B RPC r/w 5(1 )(d) r/w 5(2) of the J&K PC Act, Samvat, 2006.

Notably the J&K government decided to refer two cases (including Kiru HEP case) to CBI after the former Governor Satya Pal Malik, had claimed that he was offered a Rs 300 Cr bribe for clearing two files.

Malik was the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir between August 23, 2018 and October 30, 2019.