Harish Rawat resigns from two Congress posts after ED raids his aide’s premises and seizes cash, gold and luxury watches in a money laundering probe.
Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat has stepped down from two organisational positions in the Congress following an Enforcement Directorate (ED) raid on the premises of his personal assistant, Chandan Singh Jeena. The development is linked to a money laundering probe into alleged irregularities in a 2016 recruitment examination conducted by the Uttarakhand Subordinate Service Selection Commission (UKSSSC).
Harish Rawat announced his resignation on Friday, saying he did not want allegations involving an associate to affect the Congress party’s campaign against corruption. He resigned from the Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee executive and also gave up his position as a permanent invitee to the Congress Working Committee.
ED Recovers Cash, Gold and Luxury Watches
The Enforcement Directorate conducted searches at several locations in Dehradun as part of its investigation. According to the agency, the searches covered premises connected to former UKSSSC officials, a private computer agency owner involved in OMR sheet processing and individuals suspected of acting as middlemen.
During the operation, investigators recovered ₹32 lakh in unaccounted cash, gold coins and chains weighing around 200.5 grams, and 12 luxury watches from Jeena’s residence.
The seized jewellery reportedly included 13 gold coins and seven gold chains. The watches included brands such as Rolex, Rado, Piaget, Movado, Tissot and Casio Edifice.
The agency also froze bank accounts linked to Jeena and his family members containing approximately ₹52.16 lakh. Jeena’s mobile phone was seized for forensic examination.
Probe Linked to 2016 Recruitment Examination
The ED’s money laundering investigation follows four FIRs registered by the Uttarakhand Police and Vigilance Bureau over alleged manipulation in the Gram Panchayat Vikas Adhikari examination held through UKSSSC in 2016.
According to the agency’s allegations, OMR answer sheets were allegedly taken out of secure custody and brought to the residence of the commission’s then secretary. Roll numbers of answer sheets with unfilled portions were reportedly recorded and shared with personnel associated with a private computer agency.
The agency alleges that answer bubbles were subsequently altered or filled fraudulently before the sheets were resealed. Illegal payments were allegedly channelled through middlemen in connection with the manipulation.
Rawat Says He Finds Allegations Difficult to Believe
Reacting to the ED action, Harish Rawat said he acknowledged Jeena’s long association with him but found it difficult to accept the allegations against his aide.
Rawat said Jeena had served as his Officer on Special Duty (OSD) when he was chief minister between 2014 and 2017 and had continued to hold responsibilities within the party and government-related work.
He described Jeena as a humble and hardworking person and said that if evidence established that he had tampered with OMR sheets, he would be ashamed of such conduct. At the same time, Rawat maintained that he did not believe the allegations against his associate.
also read:- Modi-Putin Meeting: India, Russia Target $100 Billion…
Why Harish Rawat Resigned From Congress Positions
Explaining his decision, Harish Rawat said the timing was particularly important because Uttarakhand politics was moving towards an election phase. He expressed concern that the ED action involving an associate could be used to create a political narrative against him and potentially weaken Congress’s broader campaign against corruption.
Rawat said Congress workers were raising corruption-related issues and that party leader Rahul Gandhi was also highlighting concerns surrounding corruption in the education system through the ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ campaign.
He said he did not hold any government post from which he could resign, so he chose to give up his organisational responsibilities instead.
Harish Rawat Steps Aside to Avoid Impact on Congress
Harish Rawat said his decision was motivated by his desire to ensure that the allegations surrounding his associate did not become a distraction for the party. He resigned from his position on the Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee executive as well as his role as a permanent invitee to the Congress Working Committee.
The former chief minister maintained that the truth behind the allegations would emerge through the investigation. His resignation comes as the ED continues examining the alleged recruitment examination irregularities, financial transactions and assets recovered during the searches.
The investigation remains ongoing, and the allegations against the individuals involved will have to be established through the legal process.
For More Hindi News: http://newz24india.com