The Impressive TimesNew Delhi : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed a charge sheet against former Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik and five others in connection with alleged corruption in the Rs 2,200-crore Kiru Hydroelectric Power Project. The case pertains to the irregular allotment of civil works contracts, suspected kickbacks, and procedural violations during Malik’s tenure as Governor.
The charge sheet names Navin Kumar Choudhary, then chairman of Chenab Valley Power Projects (CVPPPL), along with other top officials—MS Babu, MK Mittal, and Arun Kumar Mishra—as co-accused. Construction firm Patel Engineering Limited, the primary beneficiary of the controversial contract, has also been charged. The investigation found that crucial guidelines related to e-tendering were deliberately ignored while awarding contracts, raising serious concerns about transparency and fair competition.
In 2022, following multiple complaints and a preliminary probe by the Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), the J&K government recommended a full CBI investigation. This led to the registration of an FIR and an expansive investigation. In 2024, the CBI conducted searches at eight locations in Delhi and Jammu to collect evidence.
The Kiru Hydroelectric Power Project, a 624 MW run-of-the-river scheme, is being constructed over the Chenab River in the Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir. It is a joint venture of NHPC and the J&K State Power Development Corporation. Apart from the procedural lapses, the project has also come under criticism for substandard construction quality and alleged failure to provide promised employment opportunities to local youth, which was part of the project’s broader social impact commitment.
According to the CBI, Malik had made public statements in the past claiming that he was offered bribes to clear certain files related to the project, which drew national attention and added pressure on investigative agencies to act. While Malik had denied wrongdoing, the charge sheet now places him formally under the ambit of prosecution.
The development has stirred political and administrative circles, as Malik is a high-profile figure who served not just in J&K but also as Governor of Goa and Meghalaya.
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