Dehradun: Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Harish Rawat has created a stir in the state’s politics by resigning from all party posts. This decision comes after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raided the premises of his former Officer on Special Duty (OSD) Chandan Singh Jeena and recovered a large amount of cash and valuables. Rawat clarified that he does not want this incident to tarnish the credibility of the Congress’s anti-corruption campaign.
Before announcing his resignation, Harish Rawat shared a lengthy statement on the social media platform “X.” He described Chandan Singh Jeena as a very gentle, humble, and dedicated worker. However, he also added in strong words that if the investigation proves any wrongdoing against his former colleague and there is concrete evidence, he feels personally ashamed of this conduct.
The former Chief Minister launched a scathing attack, accusing central investigative agencies of misuse. He said that people often asked him when the state elections would be held, to which he replied that they would be held only when the CBI came knocking on his door. He alleged that this time, instead of going directly to his home, action was taken against a close associate of his, in order to create a political narrative against him.
Chandan Singh Jina, who served as Harish Rawat’s OSD during his tenure as Chief Minister and currently works with him, has come under the radar of the central investigating agency. The ED has taken this action in a money laundering case related to the 2016 Uttarakhand Subordinate Services Selection Commission (UKSSSC) recruitment scam. During the search operation, approximately ₹3.2 million in cash, 12 expensive luxury watches, and gold coins were seized from Jina’s premises.
