September 12, 2026 :Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat stepped down from two major organizational positions in the Indian National Congress on Friday. His resignation followed extensive Enforcement Directorate raids targeting his personal assistant, Chandan Singh Jeena, in connection with the 2016 Uttarakhand Subordinate Service Selection Commission recruitment scam.
Harish Rawat relinquished his membership in the Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee executive committee and resigned as a permanent invitee to the national Congress Working Committee. The veteran leader clarified that he does not hold any government office, so stepping down from party roles prevents his political standing from harming the party’s ongoing public campaigns.
Unaccounted Assets Recovered During Dehradun Raids
Federal investigators executed search warrants on September 10 under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act across several locations in Dehradun. The operations targeted former administrative officers of the recruitment commission, computer agency executives, and political aides linked to the 2016 Gram Panchayat Vikas Adhikari exam irregularities.
Also Read : Pushkar Singh Dhami Approves ₹86 Crore for Uttarakhand Development Projects
The search at the residence of Chandan Singh Jeena, who previously served as Officer on Special Duty during Rawat’s tenure as Chief Minister from 2014 to 2017, yielded significant physical and financial evidence. Enforcement officers seized liquid cash, bullion, and high-end luxury items.
| Seized Asset Category | Quantity / Description | Estimated Value / Financial Action |
| Unaccounted Currency | Indian Banknotes | ₹32,00,000 Cash Seized |
| Precious Metals | 13 Gold Coins & 7 Gold Chains (200.5 grams) | Included in Physical Seizures |
| Luxury Wristwatches | 12 Watches (Rolex, Rado, Piaget, Movado, Tissot) | Valuation Under Separate Assessment |
| Frozen Bank Balances | Accounts of Jeena and Family Members | ₹52,16,000 Frozen under Section 17(1A) PMLA |
| Total Target Valuation | Combined Seized and Frozen Assets | ₹1.28 Crore (Subject to Watch Valuation) |
Investigators revealed that OMR answer sheets were unlawfully removed from secure custody and transported to the private home of the commission’s former secretary. Intermediaries extracted roll numbers from under-filled answer sheets and passed them to private computer agency workers to alter answer bubbles before re-sealing the test packets.
Harish Rawat Defends Aide While Offering Public Accountability
Harish Rawat addressed the media and supporters following his decision, describing Chandan Singh Jeena as a humble, hardworking colleague. While acknowledging Jeena’s past role as his OSD, the former Chief Minister noted that he finds the tampering allegations difficult to believe until concrete proof emerges in court.
| Policy Action & Public Statement | Rawat’s Context & Explanation |
| Resignation Rationale | Prevents personal controversies from hindering Congress anti-corruption campaigns |
| Recruitment Record | Claims over 42,000 government jobs were filled during his three-year tenure |
| UKSSSC Commission Setup | Formed to expedite youth employment and streamline public service hiring |
| Public Challenge to Agencies | Urges anyone with evidence of his direct involvement to notify the CBI, ED, or police |
Harish Rawat stated that if any person tampered with answer sheets to manipulate government appointments, such acts deserve strict condemnation. He apologized to the citizens of Uttarakhand for any administrative lapse that occurred during his tenure, emphasizing that the law should punish anyone found guilty of compromising merit-based recruitment.
Political Environment and Pre-Election Dynamics
The former Chief Minister framed the timing of the search operations within a broader political context, citing upcoming state elections. Rawat alleged that central investigative agencies are being utilized to create negative narratives against opposition leadership ahead of assembly polls.
Rawat highlighted his administration’s effort to build independent boards, including medical and education recruitment panels, to decentralize employment opportunities. He cited past consultations with former Chief Minister Major General (Retd.) BC Khanduri regarding key administrative appointments to maintain probity in governance.
As the Enforcement Directorate analyzes seized digital devices and financial ledgers, political tension across Uttarakhand continues to escalate. The Congress party plans to maintain its public outreach on youth employment issues, while state authorities monitor ongoing money laundering disclosures.