Satyapal Malik summoned by CBI in Reliance insurance policy case

National Herald has learnt that Former Jammu and Kashmir governor and BJP-appointed governor for four other states, Satya Pal Malik, who recently made explosive revelations about the 2019 Pulwama attack in which 40 CRPF jawans were killed in an interview with Karan Thapar, has been summoned by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for "clarification" on the Reliance Insurance Issue.

Malik, while serving as governor of J-K between August 23, 2018 to October 30, 2019, scrapped a medical insurance policy for government employees and their families a month after it was rolled out, claiming that it was "fraudulent". He also claimed that he was offered a Rs 300 crore bribe and was being "pressured" by RSS and BJP leader Ram Madhav to pass the scheme.

In his April 14 interview with Thapar, Malik mentioned that Madhav paid him a "special visit to try and get him to pass the scheme proposed by Reliance Insurance" and tried to "change his mind" post cancellation.

"They want certain clarifications for which they want my presence. I am going to Rajasthan, so I have given them dates from April 27 to 29 when I am available," he said.

The CBI registered two FIRs in connection with corruption allegations levelled by Malik in the awarding of contracts for a group medical insurance scheme for government employees and civil work worth Rs 2,200 crore related to the Kiru hydroelectric power project in Jammu and Kashmir.

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 at a state administrative council meeting held on August 31, 2018. The scheme was scrapped subsequently.

"... unknown officials of the finance department of the government of Jammu and Kashmir, by abusing their official positions in a conspiracy and connivance with Trinity Reinsurance Brokers Limited, Reliance General Insurance Company Limited and other unknown public servants and private persons, have committed the offences of criminal conspiracy and criminal misconduct," one of the FIRs alleges.

They caused "pecuniary advantage to themselves and wrongful loss to the state exchequer during the period 2017 and 2018 and thereby, in this manner, cheated the government of Jammu and Kashmir", it further alleges.

In the second FIR pertaining to alleged malpractices in the awarding of contracts for the civil work package of the Kiru hydroelectric power project, the CBI has alleged that the guidelines related to e-tendering were not followed.

"The case was registered on allegations of malpractices in the award of the contract worth Rs 2,200 crore (approximately) of civil works of the Kiru Hydro Electric Power Project (HEP) to a private company in the year 2019," it has said.

The agency has booked senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Navin Kumar Chaudhary, former chairman of Chenab Valley Power Projects (Private) Limited, M S Babu, former managing director, M K Mittal and Arun Kumar Mishra, former directors, and Patel Engineering Limited.

"Though a decision was taken in the 47th board meeting of CVPPL (Chenab Valley Power Projects Limited) for re-tender through e-tendering with the reverse auction after the cancellation of the ongoing tendering process, the same was not implemented (as per the decision taken in the 48th board meeting) and the tender was finally awarded to Patel Engineering Limited," the FIR alleges.

Malik has been summoned to appear before the CBI on April 28, as per reports.

With PTI inputs