The Kashmir Pulse

NEW DELHI — Former Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik on Thursday condemned the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) searches at his premises in connection with its probe into a ₹2200 crore corruption case.

The CBI searched premises linked to Malik at R K Puram, Dwarka and Asian Games Village in Delhi, besides those in Gurugram and Baghpat.

“I have been ill for the past 3-4 days and am hospitalised. Despite this, the government agencies are raiding my house on the directions of the dictator. My driver and assistant have been raided and are being harassed. I am a farmer's son and will not be scared by the raids. I am with the farmers,” Malik said in a post on X.

Malik, who served as the Governor of the erstwhile state of J&K between August 2018 and October 2019, said, “I had complained against people accused of corruption. But CBI raided my house instead of searching them. You will not get anything from my house except my 4-5 kurta pyjamas. The dictator is trying to scare me by misusing government agencies. I am a farmer's son, won't be scared and bow down.”

The case pertains to alleged corruption in awarding a civil work contract related to the Kiru Hydro Electric Power Project (HEP).

Malik had claimed that he was offered a ₹300 crore bribe for clearing two files, including the one pertaining to the project.

SRINAGAR — The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday morning carried out raids at 12 locations in different places in Delhi and Rajasthan as part of an investigation into the allotment of civil works of Kiru hydroelectric project.

An official told news agency KNO that the CBI is carrying out raids at the residences of Sunak Bali, Varinder Singh Rana, Kanwar Singh Rana and a few others in Delhi and Rajasthan as part of a probe in allotment of Rs 2200 crore civil works of Kiru hydel project.

“Sunak Bali would frequently visit Raj Bhavan during Satya Pal Malik’s stint as J&K Governor. As per Malik, Bali was not on the payroll of the government, but was his press advisor,” they said, adding that Varinder Singh Rana was the Private Secretary of Malik.

VS Rana was not a government employee, but was being paid from the exchequer of J&K Government after being engaged as Private Secretary by Malik, sources disclosed.

According to sources, Kanwar Singh Rana was also hired by Malik but he would mostly stay in Delhi. Kanwar Singh Rana and Varinder Singh Rana are relatives, they said.

The CBI official said that the raids are being carried out to collect further evidence in the case.

JAMMU — Jammu and Kashmir’s Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday said that Rs 1.42 lakh crore J&K budget for the year 2022-23 will cover all sections and sectors while there was no question of any disparity or injustice. He said that the annual budget is aimed at bringing peace and prosperity to J&K with real development on the ground.

Addressing a press conference in Jammu to highlight the main contours of J&K’s Budget 2022-23, the LG Sinha said that Rs 1.42 lakh cr budget will cover each and every sector and all sections of the society will benefit from it.

“Horticulture and tourism will be our prime focus. Tourism has been the backbone of J&K’s economy and we will once again ensure that the tourism sector reaches the same height where it was a few decades ago,” the LG Sinha said as per news agency Kashmir News Observer (KNO).

On March 17, the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced Rs 1.42 lakh crore budget for Jammu and Kashmir for FY 2022-23 in the Parliament. The LG Sinha said that this year in September, the world’s highest rail bridge will be ready in Chenab Valley that will connect Kashmir with Kanyakumari.

“Our focus is also on the power sector that has been ailing for past many decades. In the next four years, J&K is all set to become power surplus,” he said.

He said, “Since 1947, all successive regimes could generate only 3450 MWs of power and we are on the path of generating the same amount of power in the next four years only to make J&K a power surplus UT.”

He said that in the ensuing year, the Power Department will install six lakh smart metres in Srinagar and Jammu cities with three lakh in each district. “This is to prevent power theft. People will also get quality and reliable power,” he said.

The LG said that the government headed by him has written to the CBI to investigate the matter regarding allegations of bribery made by former J&K Governor Satya Pal Malik. “We want everything to be clear as people of a high rank have made such allegations,” Sinha said.