Former J&K Governor Satya Pal Malik Faces CBI Chargesheet in ₹2,200 Crore Kiru Hydropower Case Amid Critical Health Crisis
New Delhi, May 23, 2025 – The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed a chargesheet against former Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik and five others in connection with alleged irregularities in the ₹2,200 crore Kiru Hydro Electric Power Project, as reported on May 22, 2025. This development coincides with Malik’s worsening health, as he remains in critical condition at Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in Delhi, battling kidney failure and sepsis.
The chargesheet follows a 2022 request by the J&K government for a CBI probe into the Kiru project, focusing on alleged corruption in the contract-awarding process during Malik’s tenure as governor from August 2018 to October 2019. Malik had previously made headlines in October 2021 by alleging that he was offered a ₹300 crore bribe to clear certain files, a claim he said he rejected. Now, the same case has turned against him, with the CBI naming him among the accused, prompting allegations of political vendetta from his supporters. A close aide of Malik, speaking to India Today on May 22, 2025, stated, “We were the complainants in this case. Satyapal Malik has no involvement whatsoever,” calling the chargesheet a targeted move.
Malik’s health crisis began on May 11, 2025, when he was admitted to the hospital after experiencing severe pain and difficulty passing urine. According to India Today, his condition has since deteriorated, with both kidneys failing due to a urinary tract infection that progressed to sepsis. A senior doctor from RML Hospital, speaking anonymously, confirmed to The Indian Express on May 22, 2025, that Malik is on dialysis and under intensive care, describing his condition as “extremely serious.”
Malik, who served as the last governor of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir before its reorganization in 2019, has been a vocal critic of the Modi government. He has previously accused the administration of mishandling the 2019 Pulwama attack, claiming in a 2023 interview with The Wire that Prime Minister Narendra Modi instructed him to remain silent about intelligence failures. Malik also alleged corruption involving RSS leader Ram Madhav, who he claimed offered him ₹300 crore to approve a health insurance scheme during his tenure, a claim that led to a defamation notice from Madhav in 2023, as reported by Hindustan Times.
The Kiru hydropower case centers on alleged irregularities in the awarding of civil works contracts, with the CBI conducting searches across multiple locations in 2024, including Malik’s premises, as noted in a 2024 report by The Hindu. The chargesheet marks a significant escalation in the case, but Malik’s deteriorating health has shifted attention to his medical condition. Political observers and civil society members are closely watching the situation, with many questioning whether the legal action is a pursuit of justice or a politically motivated move against a known critic of the central government. As Malik fights for his life, the controversy surrounding the Kiru project continues to unfold, raising broader questions about governance and accountability in India.
