SRINAGAR: The Central Bureau of Investigations (CBI) on Sunday conducted extensive raids at 15 locations, including 14 in New Delhi and one in the Kishtwar district of Jammu, targeting four prominent chemical firms linked to suspicions of kickbacks in the allocation of a Rs 2200 crore civil work contract for the Kiru Hydro Power Project in 2019.
During the raids, electronic gadgets, crucial documents, and a substantial amount of approximately Rs 55 lakh in cash were seized from the residences and offices of Directors and Accountants associated with AS Chemical Industry, Raj Chemical Industry, Kanhaiya Enterprises, and Raj Solvent.
The CBI, deploying teams from Jammu, Chandigarh, and Delhi offices, searched 14 residences and offices of Directors and Accountants in areas like Pritam Vihar, Tri Nagar, Lajpat Nagar, Vasant Vihar, and Saraswati Vihar in New Delhi.
Key individuals under scrutiny include Satish Gupta and his wife, Directors of AS Chemical Industry and Raj Chemical Industry; Anil Kumar, Director of Kanhaiya Enterprises; and Sourabh Gupta and Munish Gupta, Directors of Raj Solvent. Accountants Arun Kumar and Satish Kumar are also under investigation.
In the Kishtwar district of Jammu, the CBI searched the house and office of Engineer Rishi Sharma, who is currently employed as a Junior Engineer in the Kiru Hydro Electric Power Project.
The raids resulted in the recovery of nearly Rs 55 lakh in cash, electronic gadgets, and pertinent documents. The CBI is now examining money trails related to the allotment of the Kiru Hydro Electric Power Project, suspecting that funds may have been diverted through the chemical firms, implicating a prominent beneficiary of the kickbacks.
The ongoing investigation, prompted by allegations of corruption in the awarding of the Rs 2,200-crore civil work contract for the Kiru Hydro Power Project in 2019, involves notable figures such as former chairman Navin Kumar Chaudhary, ex-officials M S Babu, M K Mittal, Arun Kumar Mishra, and Patel Engineering Limited. The case traces back to accusations made by former Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik, who claimed a Rs 300-crore bribe offer related to the Kiru Hydro Electric Power Project.