Uttarakhand Congress Chief Harish Rawat Quits Amid ED Action on Officials

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has intensified its investigation into alleged systemic fraud surrounding the 2016 Gram Panchayat Vikas Adhikari recruitment examination, which was conducted under the oversight of the Uttarakhand Subordinate Service Selection Commission (UKSSSC). On September 10, the central agency executed a series of coordinated raids at multiple locations across Dehradun, acting under the stringent provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

A primary focus of these operations was the residence of Chandan Singh Jeena, an individual identified The agency’s records specifically highlight that Jeena previously held the post of Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to Rawat throughout the former Chief Minister’s tenure from 2014 to 2017. Investigative findings released According to the agency, under-filled OMR sheets were systematically transferred to a private computer firm to be fraudulently filled and altered before being re-sealed, a process allegedly facilitated During the search of Jeena’s premises, federal investigators reported the recovery of significant unaccounted assets, including Rs 32 lakh in Indian currency, gold coins and chains totaling approximately 200.5 grams, and a collection of 12 luxury wristwatches.

The cumulative valuation of these assets, which have since been seized and frozen 28 crore as the ongoing investigation continues to examining the depth of these irregularities.

Read More: As India probes origin of 5 baby orangutans, Indonesia prepares ground for repatriation

Wake Enforcement Directorates Public Disclosure

In the wake of the Enforcement Directorate’s public disclosure, former Chief Minister Harish Rawat issued a formal announcement on Saturday declaring his decision to vacate his organizational responsibilities. Rawat confirmed he is stepping down from the executive of the Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee and relinquishing his status as a permanent invitee member of the Congress Working Committee at the national level.

In an early Saturday post on the platform X, Rawat openly addressed his long-standing professional association with Chandan Singh Jeena while simultaneously distancing himself from the accusations leveled against his former aide. Describing Jeena as an “utterly noble, humble, and hardworking individual,” Rawat acknowledged the trust placed in him, noting that Jeena had shouldered important responsibilities across various party and government positions over the years.

However, Rawat stipulated, “If there has been any tampering with the OMR sheets in the recruitment of gram sevaks, and if there is any evidence of such a mistake on his part, then I am ashamed of this so-called audacious act of his.” Despite this conditional expression of disappointment, the former Chief Minister asserted, “I have absolutely no faith in this allegation,” framing the investigation as a strategic attempt Rawat explained that his resignation was a preemptive measure intended to protect the Congress party, stating, “At such a time, if any action of Harish Rawat introduces any weakness in the party’s struggle, I would absolutely not want that.” He emphasized that he sought to remove any potential for his personal situation to distract from the broader institutional fight against corruption, adding, “I am not on any government position, so what resignation would I tender from that! Yes, I am a member of the executive of the Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee and a permanent invitee member of the Congress Working Committee at the national level, and with utmost humility, I wish to step down from both these positions.”.

Also Read: Ex-Havildar Arrested in Secunderabad Cantonment Arms Heist

As the political landscape in Uttarakhand begins to shift toward the 2027 Assembly elections, Harish Rawat has attempted to reframe the ED’s actions as part of a targeted political offensive. Rawat characterized the raid on his associate's residence as a diversionary tactic, remarking, “But this time, instead of knocking at my house, an attempt has been made to knock at the house of one of my associates and craft a narrative.” He maintained that the Congress party remains “fighting united against corruption” and drew parallels to the ongoing campaign led Defending his own governance record, Rawat highlighted the creation of the UKSSSC during his administration, asserting that the commission was established specifically to benefit the state’s youth.

He claimed that his three-year tenure oversaw the successful completion of more than 42,000 government recruitments. Addressing the allegations surrounding the 2016 examination, he offered a measured apology to the public: “If there has been any error of judgment on our part in the appointments during that process, then I seek forgiveness from the people of Uttarakhand for it.” Rawat’s decision to step down from the party’s national and state bodies suggests a desire to insulate the Congress leadership from the mounting legal pressure surrounding the OMR tampering case.

Meanwhile, the Enforcement Directorate has made it clear that the evidence seized at Jeena’s residence is merely one facet of a wider inquiry, with the official status of the case remaining strictly under investigation. The juxtaposition of Rawat’s political fallout and the agency’s discovery of high-value luxury items continues to draw significant public and media attention as the investigation proceeds, potentially setting the tone for regional political discourse in the months leading up to the upcoming electoral cycle.