New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday is conducting raids at nine locations in Delhi-NCR, including the residence of Sunak Bali, the former private press secretary to ex-Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik in connection with a case of alleged corruption in the Union Territory.
As per Malik, Bali was not on government payroll but was his personal associate.
The case pertains to allegations of irregularities in a health insurance scheme involving Anil Ambani-led Reliance General Insurance that Malik was allegedly asked to push. Malik had claimed that he was offered a bribe for clearing the files during his tenure as the J&K Governor between August 23, 2018 and October 30, 2019.
Last year, the CBI had lodged a case in this respect and conducted raids in six states.
On March 23, 2022 a letter was received from Dr Mohammad Usman Khan, JKAS, Deputy Secretary to the Government, General Administration Department regarding a matter of malpractices in awarding a contract regarding the Employees Health Care Insurance Scheme to Reliance General Insurance Corporation Limited.
"The allegations mentioned in the written communication prima facie disclosed that unknown officials of Finance Department of Govt. of J&K by abusing their official position in conspiracy and connivance with Trinity Reinsurance Brokers Ltd., Reliance General Insurance Company Ltd. and other unknown public servants committed the offences of Criminal Conspiracy and Criminal Misconduct to cause pecuniary advantage to themselves and caused wrongful loss to state exchequer during the period 2017 and 2018 and thereby in this manner cheated the Govt of J&K," the CBI source said.
After preliminary inquiry, the CBI lodged a case under sections 120-B read with sections 420 of RPC and Section 5(2), Section 5(1)(d) of the J&K PC Act. Investigation into the matter is ongoing.
Last month, the CBI had questioned Malik at his residence for around five hours. This was the second time in seven months that Malik, who served as the governor of various states, was quizzed by CBI.
Officials, however, clarified that Malik is not an accused or a suspect in the case so far. His statement was recorded in October last year after he concluded his gubernatorial responsibilities in Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, Goa and Meghalaya.
In October 2021, Malik had claimed that he was offered Rs 300 crore in bribes to clear two files including one related to an RSS leader. In March 2022, J&K Lt Governor Manoj Sinha had said the allegations made by Malik were serious and that the administration had decided to hand over the case to CBI.