Satyapal Malik, former J&K Governor, passes away at 79

Former J&K governor Satyapal Malik.

Former Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satyapal Malik passed away on Tuesday afternoon at the age of 79 after battling a prolonged illness.

He passed away at Delhi's Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, his personal secretary KS Rana confirmed.

पूर्व गवर्नर चौधरी सत्यपाल सिंह मलिक जी नहीं रहें।#satyapalmalik

— Satyapal Malik (@SatyapalMalik6) August 5, 2025

Malik was undergoing treatment for kidney-related complications for the past few weeks. Earlier on June 8, Malik had shared a health update on X, describing his condition as “serious.”

Satyapal Malik passed away on August 5, which also happens to be the day when Article 370 was abrogated six years ago. Article 370 was scrapped when Malik was the governor of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.

His one-year stint at J&K Governor ended after the abrogation of Article 370 back in 2019. He had also served as the Governor of Goa and Meghalaya.

Malik was no stranger to controversies either. After leaving the Governor's office, his criticism of the central government intensified. He emerged as a vocal supporter of the farmers' protests and also made serious allegations regarding the 2019 Pulwama attack.

In May this year, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed a chargesheet against Satyapal Malik and six others in connection with the Kiru Hydro Electric Project of Jammu and Kashmir. The case relates to alleged corruption in awarding a contract for the civil work for the Kiru Hydro Electric Power Project (HEP) worth Rs 2,200 crore in Kishtwar in 2019.