Former CM Harish Rawat Appears Before ED In Dehradun In 2016 UKSSSC Recruitment Case, Wears Mother’s Photo Around Neck
SUNIL NEGI
Dehradun, 26 September 2026 – Former Chief Minister of Uttarakhand and senior Congress leader Harish Rawat today appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) office in Dehradun after being summoned in connection with alleged irregularities in the 2016 Uttarakhand Subordinate Service Selection Commission recruitment examination.
Despite heavy rains in Dehradun, Rawat, 77, reached the ED office on foot holding an umbrella, wearing the photograph of his late mother Maa Jagdamba around his neck. In a video released before entering the ED office, Rawat said he was going alone, had not informed anyone and had come quietly after seeking blessings of his mother, Maa Jagdamba and Mother Earth.
“ED sent me a notice 2 days back in connection with a 2016 matter. They have demanded a number of documents from me. I have come to the ED office now,” Rawat said in the video.
“I have not called anyone, nor have I asked anyone to come. The ED summoned me, so I came here quietly,” he added.
The case pertains to alleged large-scale irregularities in the 2016 Uttarakhand Subordinate Service Selection Commission (UKSSSC) Gram Panchayat Vikas Adhikari (VPDO) Examination conducted during his tenure as Chief Minister from 2014-2017. The ED probe is related to alleged manipulation of OMR sheets.
According to his office, the ED notice served two days ago has sought detailed documents relating to his Income Tax Returns and property since 2016, details of his residence, business interests, properties, bank accounts and assets of his family members.
In his video, Rawat said he was confused about the definition of ‘family’ in the ED notice as he has a large family and his daughters are married, making it difficult to gather old documents for every member.
The summons came after the ED on September 10 conducted searches at multiple locations in Dehradun including the premises of his personal assistant and former Officer on Special Duty (OSD) Chandan Singh Jeena. According to ED, it recovered Rs 32 lakh in unaccounted cash, 200.5 grams of gold including 13 gold coins and seven gold chains, and 12 luxury watches from Jeena’s residence.
Jeena had served as Rawat’s OSD when he was Chief Minister and is currently his personal assistant.
Following the recovery, Rawat on September 11 had announced stepping down from two Congress posts – member of the Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee executive and permanent invitee to the Congress Working Committee (CWC) at the national level. He said he did not want any action on his part to weaken the party’s ongoing fight against corruption ahead of the 2027 Uttarakhand Assembly elections.
Clarifying later, Rawat said Congress membership is in his “blood and bones” and will go with him to heaven. “Some sections of the media are reporting that Harish Rawat has resigned from Congress. Brother, Congress Party membership is in my blood and bones; it shapes everything that Harish Rawat is,” he had said.
He described Jeena as an extremely decent, humble and hardworking person and said he did not believe the allegations at this stage.
Today’s questioning is still underway at the ED office in Dehradun.
