Raids on Satyapal Malik: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is carrying out raids at the premises of former Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik on Thursday, February 22. The agency is conducting raids at more than 30 places including Satyapal malik's residence. Premises linked to Malik at R K Puram, Dwarka and Asian Games Village in Delhi, besides those in Gurugram and Baghpat, were searched, they added.

The federal agency started its operation in the morning, with around 100 officers mobilised to swoop down at the 30 locations in multiple cities of Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Rajasthan, besides Delhi and Mumbai, the officials said.

The raids are being carried out as part of CBI's investigation into alleged corruption linked to the awarding of a Kiru Hydroelectric project contract in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. 

Why is CBI searching Malik 

It has been alleged that Satya Pal Malik has been offered a Rs 300-crore bribe for the approval of two crucial files, one of which involved the Kiru Hydroelectric power project. The raids are being conducted at 30 different locations in connection with alleged corruption in the Rs 2,200-crore Kiru Hydropower project.

Malik's Associates Being Raided by CBI 

The searches also covered the premises of alleged associates of Malik, former chairman of the Chenab Valley Power Projects Private Limited Navin Kumar Chaudhary and officials of Patel Engineering Limited. 

Satya Pal Malik Responds to CBI Raids 

Former Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik said that he won't back down as he is a farmer's son. 

"I have been ill for the last 3-4 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. I am a farmer's son, I will not be afraid of these raids. I am with the farmers," Malik said in a post on X.

What is the Corruption Case linked to Kiru Hydro Electric Power Project

The case pertains to alleged corruption in awarding a civil-work contract related to the Kiru Hydro Electric Power Project (HEP) worth Rs 2,200 crore. 

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

"The case was registered on allegations of malpractices in the award of the contract worth approximately Rs 2,200 crore of civil works of the Kiru Hydro Electric Power Project (HEP) to a private company in 2019," the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had said earlier.

The agency has booked Chaudhary and other former officials of the Chenab Valley Power Projects Private Limited -- M S Babu, M K Mittal and Arun Kumar Mishra -- and Patel Engineering Limited.

"Though a decision was taken in the 47th board meeting of CVPPPL (Chenab Valley Power Projects (P) Ltd) for re-tender through e-tendering with a reverse auction after the cancellation of the ongoing tendering process, the same was not implemented (according to the decision taken in the 48th board meeting) and the tender was finally awarded to Patel Engineering Limited," the FIR has alleged.

The agency had conducted searches at the premises of five people in January in connection with the case. 

(With PTI Inputs)