Vigilance raids uncover major irregularities in Sikkim's Teesta-III power project

Sikkim Vigilance Police (SVP) had conducted search operations on 22nd, 23rd & 24th of this month at multiple locations spread across Delhi, Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, Siliguri and Gangtok in connection with an ongoing investigation into the irregularities perpetrated, before and during the development of ambitious 1200 MW Teesta Stage III Hydro-Electric Project in Chungthang, North Sikkim.

- STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE

The SVP in a Press statement said it initiated investigations following an FIR registered at SVP Police Station on 18 May, against the then PCE-cum-Secretaries of the Energy & Power Department, erstwhile Chairmen and MD of Teesta Urja Ltd, Contractors, unknown officials of the Central Government offices and unknown public servants of Sikkim govt.

Simultaneous searches were carried out at the offices and residences of the individuals associated with the development of the project. The special operations led to the seizure of a large number of incriminating documents and digital records. Foreign currency in the form of USD, bank account details, property documents, passports etc. were recovered. The seized material is expected to be of rich evidentiary value in establishing the charges of large scale corruption and criminal misconduct, levelled against officials and developers, in the complaint lodged at the SVP police station.