Latest news with #J&KPreventionofCorruptionAct
Hindustan Times
21-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Malik got bribes for J&K project via two aides: CBI
Former Jammu and Kashmir governor Satya Pal Malik received bribes from Patel Engineering, routed through two close aides, for awarding a ₹ 2,200 crore civil contract for Kiru hydroelectric project (HEP) over Chenab river in Kishtwar, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has claimed in its charge sheet filed against him and others last month, CBI officials familiar with the contents of the document said. Malik alleged in October 2021, two years after he demitted the office, that he was offered a ₹ 300-crore bribe for clearing two files, including the one pertaining to the Kiru project. (PTI) The money trail to his aides , Virendra Rana and Kanwar Singh Rana , has been established and detailed in the charge sheet, the officials, who asked not to be named, said, without divulging the amount of total bribes received. HT has not reviewed the charge sheet. The federal anti-corruption agency filed a charge sheet last month before a special court in Jammu naming Malik,79, who was J&K governor from August 23, 2018, to October 30, 2019, his two aides, then Chenab Valley Power Projects Pvt Ltd (CVPPPL) managing director MS Babu, its directors Arun Kumar Mishra and M K Mittal, managing director of construction firm Patel Engineering Ltd, Rupen Patel , and Kanwaljeet Singh Duggal. The court is yet to take cognizance of the charge sheet. 'After thorough investigation for three years, based on robust documentary evidence and statements of witnesses, we have established in our charge sheet that the former governor (Malik) received bribes through his two private secretaries , Virendra Rana and Kanwar Singh Rana. We have provided a clear money trail pertaining to the transfer of funds,' said one of the CBI officials cited above. A second CBI official said that there was no need to obtain prior permission to file a charge sheet against Malik, who held a constitutional post. 'Under the provisions of J&K Ranbir Penal Code (RPC) and J&K Prevention of Corruption Act, in which the former governor has been charged, there is no need for prior prosecution sanction'. The agency has invoked section 120-B of J&K RPC and J&K PC act as the alleged corruption took place before the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019 when these archaic legal provisions in the erstwhile state were replaced by the IPC and Prevention of corruption Act. IPC has since been replaced by the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Malik's representative said on Friday that the former governor is undergoing treatment for a serious medical condition and that there would be no comment apart from whatever Malik has already said on X . On June 7, in a post on X , Malik said: 'The tender they want to implicate me in was one I personally cancelled. I had informed the Prime Minister about the corruption in that matter, and after informing him, I cancelled that tender myself. After my transfer, that tender was approved with someone else's signature.' The former governor said at the time that he was in the Intensive Unit Care (ICU) of a hospital for a kidney-related ailment. Malik alleged in October 2021, two years after he demitted the office, that he was offered a ₹ 300-crore bribe for clearing two files, including the one pertaining to the Kiru project. A member of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Malik has, in recent years, turned a critic of the NDA government , and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, especially over the handling of the farm protest in 2020-21, and regarding the circumstances that led to the Pulwama terror strike in 2019. CBI registered a case in the matter on April 20, 2022 but Malik was not named as accused in the first information report. 'His role emerged later during the probe,' said the second officer cited above. In its first information report (FIR), CBI said: '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'. HT reached out to Patel Engineering for a comment through email, but there was no response.
Hindustan Times
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Former director of J&K tribal affairs dept, others booked for scholarship ‘scam'
The J&K anti-corruption bureau (ACB) on Monday registered a case against former director of tribal affairs department and others for alleged violations in implementing the post-matric scholarships for ST candidates, said officials. Former director MS Choudhary has now retired. The case was registered under section 5(1)(c) (d) and section 5(2) of J&K Prevention of Corruption Act, 2006 and section 120B of the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC), a spokesperson said. Along with Choudhary, others booked include Shanaz Akhtar Malik, Humera Banu, Firdous Ahmed, Sham Lal Targotra, Jaffer Hussain Wani, Parshotam Bharadwaj, Ramneek Kour and Puneet Mahajan. Most of the accused are officials from private institutes located in Jammu region. The spokesperson said the case was registered after allegations of gross violations of guidelines and release of crores of rupees to unrecognised institutes for unrecognised courses while implementing post matric scholarship. Under the post matric scholarship scheme, the Centre grants financial aid of ₹18,000 per student to ST candidates, along with ₹2,300 maintenance allowance. The private institutes located at Jammu district managed to get documents of ST students hailing from far-flung areas and submitted them to the directorate of tribal affairs. The officials, without verifying the institutes, disbursed scholarships worth crores between 2014 and 2018 into the bank accounts of these institutes, the spokesperson added. Further verification found payments were released to students who did not even apply for these courses. Though some students sought admission under the scheme, they never attended or partially attended the computer courses, the officials said, adding that the benefits were paid in full even against the names of these students. 'Some fake bank accounts were opened for ST students without their consent and knowledge as it was mandatory to fill account number in the form for maintenance allowance. A few of the institutes did not have accreditation, but fees were disbursed to them,' the official said, adding that the investigation is ongoing.
Hindustan Times
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Land scam: Got a clean chit long ago, will assist ACB probe, says NC MLA
A day after J&K anti-corruption bureau named NC MLA from Budhal Javid Iqbal Choudhary in a land scam, he clarified that he was given clean chit long ago by the crime branch and income tax departments. The MLA added he will assist the ACB in their probe and provide all evidence. 'I have come to know that my name is being linked to a land allotment under investigation of ACB. This could be erroneous or mischievous, which I will have to ascertain. I want to clarify that I have never been a beneficiary of any such transaction and nor have I ever been a stakeholder of such land. I am also aware of a white-collar nexus, which is spending a good deal of money and other resources to plant fake stories against us,' Choudhary said in a post on his Facebook page. The ACB registered a case under section 5(1)(d) and 5(2)of the J&K Prevention of Corruption Act and section 120B of the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC) against Ravinder Sharma, the then Jammu tehsildar (settlement), Mohammad Bashir, the then Bahu tehsildar,Mohd Sarwar Lone, the then Bahu naib tehsildar, Mohd Rasheed Malik, the then Chowadhi patwari, and other beneficiaries for allotment of state land in favour of one Tara Singh from Deli Rakh Bandu in Jammu without fulfilling the conditions of a cabinet order. During the inquiry, it surfaced that allotment order was issued by the then Jammu PRO in 2013 to Singh as refugee allottee and ownership rights were conferred upon the allottee in violation of the cabinet order which says allottee has to cultivate the land personally within six months from the date of the allotment.
Hindustan Times
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Kiru hydropower corruption case: CBI files chargesheet against ex-J&K guv Satyapal Malik, 7 others
The CBI on Thursday filed a chargesheet against former Jammu and Kashmir governor Satyapal Malik and seven others in connection with alleged corruption in the award of ₹2,200-crore civil works for Kiru hydropower project over Chenab river in Kishtwar district, officials said. 'The CBI had filed a chargesheet on Tuesday before a special CBI court in Jammu but it was returned because the chargesheet lacked a document. Today, the CBI filed the chargesheet again with the requisite document,' said an official privy to the development. The CBI has filed the chargesheet after three years of probe. In its chargesheet, the CBI has named Malik and his two aides Virender Rana and Kanwar Singh Rana. The others named are the then Chenab Valley Power Projects Pvt Ltd (CVPPPL) managing director MS Babu, its directors Arun Kumar Mishra and MK Mittal, managing director of construction firm Patel Engineering Ltd Rupen Patel and private person Kanwaljeet Singh Duggal, they said. The agency has invoked Section 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Ranbir Penal Code and provisions of J&K Prevention of Corruption Act as the alleged crime took place before abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019 when these archaic legal provisions in erstwhile state were replaced by Indian Penal Code and Prevention of Corruption Act. Meanwhile, photo of 79-year-old Malik was posted on his 'X' handle showing him lying in a hospital bed of Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital surrounded by an array of medical apparatus, including an intravenous infusion device and a ventilatory support system. 'I am getting calls from many of my well-wishers which I am unable to take. My condition is very bad right now. I am admitted in the hospital and am not in a condition to talk to anyone,' the accompanying message read on 'X'. The case pertains to the alleged malpractices in the award of the contract worth about ₹2,200 crore of civil works of the Kiru hydroelectric power (HEP) project to a private company in 2019, the CBI had said after the registration of the FIR in 2022. Malik, who was the governor of Jammu and Kashmir from August 23, 2018 to October 30, 2019, had claimed that he was offered a ₹300-crore bribe for clearing two files, including the one pertaining to the project. He had denied allegations of corruption against him after the agency conducted search operation last year. The CBI had conducted searches at the premises of Mr Malik and others in connection with the case in February last year. On March 24, 2022, CBI had initiated a probe into the allegations of Malik. The Jammu and Kashmir administration had recommended a probe by the CBI to investigate the matter.
Indian Express
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
J&K Anti-Corruption Bureau books ruling party MLA Choudhary Javed Iqbal in ‘illegal' land deal case
Jammu and Kashmir's highest anti-corruption body has booked three former revenue officers and one serving one for allegedly 'entering into a conspiracy with three civilians' – including National Conference's current Budhal MLA Choudhary Javed Iqbal – to 'usurp' a piece of land meant for a refugee in Jammu's Chawadi area. According to the Anti-Corruption Bureau's First Information Report (FIR) registered on May 20, Ravinder Sharma, the then Tehsildar (Settlement) Jammu, Mohammad Bashir, the then Tehsildar (Bahu), Jammu, Mohammad Sarwar Lone, the then Naib Tehsildar (Bahu), Jammu, and Mohd Rasheed Malik, the then Patwari Chowadhi, Jammu, have been booked under sections of the J&K Prevention of Corruption Act, Svt 2006, and the Ranbir Penal Code for having illegally attesting the change in ownership of a piece of land in Chawadi area in 2014. Of the alleged accused, the tehsildars and the naib tehsildar are now retired. Significantly, the FIR mentions J&K lawmaker Javed Iqbal, son of Aslam Din of Madina Hills, Narwal Bhatindi, as the holder of the power of attorney pertaining to the land. Iqbal, however, has not been named as an accused in the case and he was not in politics at that time. Also named in the FIR is Tara Singh, the allottee of the land and a man displaced from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in 1947. In its FIR, the ACB said that the land in question measuring 30 kanals (equivalent to 3.75 acres), was allotted to Singh in 2013 according to Government Order No. 254/C, which provided for allotment of state land to displaced persons from PoK. According to Cabinet Order No. 578-C of 1954, allottees of such land will have to personally begin cultivating them within six months of their allocation, failing which he will forfeit his right to hold the land. According to the ACB, Singh never had possession of the land, and that instead, revenue records had one Nazir Ahmad, son of Alam Deen, recorded as the gair marusi — or the tenant without any occupancy rights — of the land. Additionally, the Khasra Girdawari, or the annual revenue record denoting possession, was also shown in Ahmed's name, the FIR says. In view of the entities in the revenue records, the land in question was neither in the possession of the allottee Tara Singh, nor there was any Khasra Girdawari entered in revenue records in his name, but the revenue officials named as accused in the FIR entered into a conspiracy with the beneficiaries and attested mutation in favour of Tara Singh in 2014, the FIR said. However, a power of attorney pertaining to that land had been executed in Javed Iqbal's name 'well before the conferment of ownership rights in favour of Tara Singh'. This attesting of mutation in favour of Tara Singh, according to the FIR, was in violation of the Cabinet Order No. 578-C of 1954. However, the revenue officials named as accused in the FIR entered into a conspiracy with the beneficiaries and attested mutation in favour of Tara Singh in 2014. 'The entire episode serves as evidence that for pecuniary gain, the then Tehsildar Settlement, Jammu, along with the revenue officers/officials of Tehsil Bahu, Jammu, beneficiary Tara Singh, Nazir Ahmad, and attorney holder Javid Iqbal, conspired together in a well-orchestrated manner to illegally obtain state land. They subsequently sold the land worth crores causing significant loss of the state exchequer,' the FIR said. When contacted, a senior officer of the ACB, investigations are ongoing and that 'inclusion of any person as accused depends on their outcome'. On his part, Iqbal denied he had anything to do with the land and claimed that 'The matter was investigated by government agencies earlier as well, and I was given a clean chit'.
