New Delhi, October 09, 2022 (PPI-OT):The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has examined former Governor Satya Pal Malik in connection with two graft cases registered in Jammu and Kashmir in April based on allegations levelled by him. Satya Pal Malik had claimed that he was offered a Rs 300 crore bribe for clearing two files during his tenure as the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir between August 23, 2018 and October 30, 2019.
The CBI team took details of his observations earlier this week after his five years tenure as Governor ended on October 4, officials said. Malik had issued statements criticising the Indian government during farmers’ agitation and he subsequently moved to Meghalaya where his five-year tenure ended this month.
“After going to Kashmir, two files came to me (for clearance), one belonging to Ambani and another to an RSS-affiliated man who was a minister in the previous Mehbooba Mufti-led PDP-BJP coalition government and claimed to be very close to the Prime Minister (Narendra Modi),” he had said. “I was informed by secretaries in both departments that there is a scandal and I accordingly cancelled both deals.
“The secretaries told me that ‘you will get `150 crore each for clearing the files’ but I told them that I have come with five kurta pyjamas and will leave with that only,” Malik had told a gathering at an event in Jhunjhunu in Rajasthan in October last year. In April this year, the CBI registered the two FIRs in connection with corruption allegations levelled by Malik in the award of contracts for a group medical insurance scheme for government employees and civil work worth `2,200 crore related to the Kiru hydroelectric power project in the erstwhile state.
The agency has booked Reliance General Insurance and Trinity Re-Insurance Brokers Limited as accused in its FIR related to a controversial health insurance scheme for Jammu and Kashmir Government employees reportedly cleared by Malik in state administrative council meeting on August 31, 2018.
“Unknown officials of the Finance Department of Government of Jammu and Kashmir by abusing their official position in conspiracy and connivance with Trinity Reinsurance Brokers Ltd, Reliance General Insurance Company Ltd and other unknown public servants and private persons have committed offences of criminal conspiracy and criminal misconduct,” the FIR alleged.
In the scheme which was initially signed up with RGIC for one year, the employees and pensioners would have got 6 lakh cover for themselves and five dependent family members by paying an annual premium of 8,777 and 22,229 for employees and pensioners, respectively.
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