New Delhi, May 22 (H.S.): The CBI has charged former Jammu and Kashmir governor Satyapal Malik and five others for alleged corruption linked to the Rs 2,200-crore Kiru hydropower project. This chargesheet follows a three-year investigation and has been submitted to a special court. Malik, currently hospitalized, stated he is unable to speak with well-wishers trying to reach him.A message along with a picture of him in the hospital bed was posted on Satypal Malik's Twitter handle. In the message, Satypal Malik wrote, Hello friends. Many well-wishers have been calling me, which I am unable to answer. My condition is very poor right now. I am not in a position to talk to anyone. I have been admitted to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital since May 11. I was hospitalized due to a complaint of an infection. Now the situation is very serious and I have been undergoing kidney dialysis for the past three days.

The CBI had previously raided Malik's and others' properties in February 2022 concerning the case, which involves malpractices in awarding the contract to a private company in 2019. Malik, who served as governor from August 2018 to October 2019, alleged he was offered a bribe of Rs 300 crores for approving two files, including the hydropower project. He has denied any corruption claims and criticized the CBI for focusing their investigation on him rather than those he asserts are truly corrupt.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar