Digital devices and incriminating documents have been recovered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) during searches at around 8 locations in Jammu & Kashmir, Delhi and other places in the on-going investigations of a case related to alleged irregularities in the award of tender for civil works of Kiru Hydroelectric Project being executed by Chenab Valley Power Projects (P) Ltd (CVPPPL).

The searches have led to recovery of digital devices, computers, property documents and incriminating documents in addition to cash of over Rs 21 lakh, said a CBI spokesman on Monday.

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The instant case was registered on the basis of a reference received from the Government of J&K against the then Chairman; then MD; then Directors of CVPPPL; a private company and unknown others.

It was alleged that in the award of civil works relating to Kiru Hydroelectric Project, guidelines regarding e-tendering were not followed. It was also alleged that though a decision was taken in the 47th board meeting of CVPPPL for re-tender through e-tendering with reverse auction, after cancellation of ongoing tendering process, the same was not implemented and the decision of 47th board meeting, was reversed in the 48th board meeting.

An IAS officer of J&K has also been booked in the case. A location in Kishtwar was also raided by the CBI.

The case relates to alleged kickbacks in the allotment of a Rs 2200 crore civil work contract for Kiru Hydro Power Project in 2019.

The CBI in April last year registered a case on charges of criminal conspiracy, misconduct and under relevant sections of the Jammu and Kashmir Prevention of Corruption Act.

A total of five accused were booked including IAS officer Navin Kumar Choudhary, who was also chairman of CVPPPL at the time of the alleged crime. The then managing director and two directors also stand booked in addition to M/s Patel Engineering Ltd (the private company which was awarded the contract).

Kiru Project (624 MW), a run-of-river scheme is being built on river Chenab in district Kishtwar of Union Territory of J&K and is about 42 kms from Kishtwar. The estimated cost of the project is Rs 4,285.59 crore.

Multiple teams of the CBI from Jammu, Chandigarh, and Delhi offices raided four prominent chemical firms in the Union capital. Residences and offices of Directors and accountants of these firms were searched in various locations.

Former J&K Governor Satya Pal Malik had alleged that he was offered a bribe of Rs 300-crore for clearing two files, including the one pertaining to the Kiru Hydro Electric Power Project.