Sikkim Vigilance Raids Across Cities in Teesta Stage-III Hydel Project Corruption Probe
GG News Bureau
Gangtok, 1st June: The Sikkim Vigilance Police (SVP) has launched a sweeping crackdown in connection with serious irregularities and corruption in the under-construction 1200 MW Teesta Stage-III hydroelectric project at Chungthang, North Sikkim. Simultaneous raids were carried out on May 22, 23, and 24 across multiple Indian cities including Delhi, Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, Siliguri, and Gangtok.
According to the SVP, the investigation began following an FIR registered on May 18, 2025. The FIR names former Principal Chief Engineers-cum-Secretaries of the Department of Power and Energy, ex-Chairmen and Managing Directors of Teesta Urja Limited, private contractors, and unknown officials from both the central and Sikkim state governments.
During the three-day operation, vigilance teams raided offices and residences, recovering significant evidence, including foreign currency (USD), passports, bank account records, property documents, and a large cache of incriminating digital files. These materials are considered crucial in substantiating allegations of large-scale corruption and criminal conspiracy.
Initial findings suggest that the then-state government, under a predetermined plan, bypassed due transparency and selected an ineligible private consortium as the Independent Power Producer (IPP) for the project. Further violations reportedly occurred during the construction phase, including compromise in dam design and safety, in breach of contractual norms.
The probe has also unearthed allegations of bribes given as ‘consultancy fees’ to several retired officials. Investigators suspect that officials from various central ministries may have colluded to grant unlawful approvals.
The SVP stated that the probe is now focused on tracing benami properties, money laundering routes, and deeper links involving public servants. The case is expected to widen as more layers of financial misconduct and bureaucratic complicity are exposed in the coming weeks.
