CBI Files Chargesheet Against Former J&K Governor Satyapal Malik, Seven Others in Rs 2,200-Crore Kiru Hydel Corruption Case

Samba Times Special

New Delhi, May 23, 2025 – The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed a chargesheet against former Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satyapal Malik and seven others in a high-profile corruption case linked to the Rs 2,200-crore civil works contract for the Kiru Hydro Electric Power (HEP) Project in Kishtwar district. The chargesheet, filed before a special court after a three-year investigation, marks a significant development in a case that has stirred political and public attention due to its allegations of bribery and irregularities in the tendering process.

Background of the Case

The Kiru Hydro Electric Power Project, a 624 MW run-of-the-river project on the Chenab River, is being developed by Chenab Valley Power Projects Pvt Ltd (CVPPPL), a joint venture between the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) and the Jammu & Kashmir State Power Development Corporation. The project, estimated to cost Rs 4,287 crore, has been mired in controversy since 2019 due to alleged malpractices in the awarding of its civil works contract, valued at approximately Rs 2,200 crore, to Patel Engineering Limited.

The CBI registered two First Information Reports (FIRs) in April 2022 at the request of the Jammu and Kashmir government. One FIR pertains to alleged corruption in the award of the Kiru project contract, while the other involves malpractices in the J&K Employees’ Health Care Insurance Scheme, where Rs 60 crore was allegedly released to a private company in 2017-18. The Kiru case gained prominence after Satyapal Malik, who served as J&K Governor from August 23, 2018, to October 30, 2019, claimed in October 2021 that he was offered a Rs 300-crore bribe to clear two files, including one related to the Kiru project. Malik’s allegations triggered a CBI probe, which has now culminated in the chargesheet.

Details of the Chargesheet

The CBI’s chargesheet names eight individuals, including:

• Satyapal Malik, former Governor of Jammu and Kashmir.
• Virender Rana and Kanwar Singh Rana, Malik’s private secretaries during his tenure.
• M S Babu, then Managing Director of CVPPPL.
• Arun Kumar Mishra and M K Mittal, directors at CVPPPL.
• Rupen Patel, Managing Director of Patel Engineering Ltd.
• Kanwaljeet Singh Duggal, a private individual allegedly involved in the case.
• Navin Kumar Choudhary, the then Chairman of CVPPPL, was also named in the original FIR.

The CBI alleges that the tendering process for the Kiru project’s civil works was marred by irregularities. According to the FIR, the CVPPPL board, in its 47th meeting, decided to cancel the ongoing tendering process and re-tender the project through e-tendering with a reverse auction to ensure transparency. However, this decision was allegedly not implemented, and in the subsequent 48th board meeting, the contract was awarded to Patel Engineering Ltd without following the prescribed guidelines. The CBI claims that this deviation facilitated corrupt practices in the allocation of the Rs 2,200-crore contract.

The agency’s investigation, which included searches at over 30 locations in February 2024, including Malik’s residences in Delhi and J&K, uncovered evidence of alleged malpractices. The CBI also conducted extensive questioning of Malik and other bureaucrats linked to the project, leading to the filing of the chargesheet.

Satyapal Malik’s Response

Following the filing of the chargesheet on May 22, 2025, Satyapal Malik, currently admitted to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in Delhi, posted on X that he was in a “very serious” condition and unable to respond to calls from well-wishers. Malik, a former BJP leader and Governor of multiple states, including J&K, Goa, Meghalaya, and Bihar, has consistently denied any wrongdoing. In response to earlier CBI raids in February 2024, he claimed that the agency targeted him instead of investigating those he accused of corruption. In a post on X, he stated, “They will not get anything except four-five kurtas and pyjamas. The dictator is trying to scare me by misusing government agencies. I am a farmer’s son, I will neither be afraid nor bow down.”

Malik’s allegations of being offered a Rs 300-crore bribe have been central to the case. He claimed that the bribe was offered to clear two files, one of which pertained to the Kiru project, and that he rejected the offer. These claims, made publicly in 2021, led to the CBI’s investigation but have also drawn scrutiny toward Malik himself, with the agency now alleging his involvement in the irregularities.

Allegations and Broader Implications

The Kiru Hydropower Project has faced criticism beyond the corruption allegations. Local officials and residents have raised concerns about substandard work and the project’s failure to provide employment opportunities to unemployed youth in the region. The project’s cost, initially pegged at Rs 4,287 crore, has also been a point of contention, with allegations of mismanagement adding to public discontent.

The CBI’s chargesheet is seen as a significant step in addressing large-scale corruption in public infrastructure projects in Jammu and Kashmir. The case has also reignited debates about transparency in tendering processes and the accountability of public officials. Malik’s outspoken criticism of the central government, including his allegations of mishandling in the 2019 Pulwama terror attack, has made him a polarizing figure, with some viewing the CBI’s actions as politically motivated.

Current Status

As of May 23, 2025, the chargesheet has been filed before a special court, and further legal proceedings are expected. Malik’s hospitalization has raised questions about his ability to participate in the legal process in the immediate term. The CBI continues to investigate related aspects of the case, and additional developments may emerge as the court examines the chargesheet.