Harish Rawat resigns from Congress posts after ED raids over UKSSSC 2016 exam probe

New Delhi: Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat has stepped down from two key organisational positions in the Congress after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) recovered unaccounted cash, gold and luxury watches from the residence of his former Officer on Special Duty (OSD), Chandan Singh Jeena.Rawat resigned from the Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) executive and relinquished his position as a permanent invitee to the Congress Working Committee (CWC) at the national level.The resignations came shortly after the ED conducted searches in Uttarakhand in connection with alleged irregularities in the 2016 Uttarakhand Subordinate Service Selection Commission (UKSSSC) Gram Panchayat Vikas Adhikari/Gram Sevak recruitment examination.Why Did Harish Rawat Resign?Explaining his decision, Rawat said he does not currently hold any government position and did not want any controversy surrounding him to weaken the Congress' fight against corruption.In social media posts, Rawat said he took the decision after “remembering my Isht Devta”. He also maintained that the move was intended to ensure that the allegations did not become a distraction for the party, particularly with the Uttarakhand Assembly elections approaching.Rawat defended Jeena, describing his former aide as a gentle, humble and hardworking person who had handled important responsibilities during his tenure in government and in the party.At the same time, Rawat said he would be ashamed if evidence eventually established that OMR sheets had been tampered with. However, he said he had “absolutely no faith” in the allegation against Jeena at this stage.What Did The ED Recover?The ED conducted searches on or around September 10 at several locations in Dehradun under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).According to reports citing the agency, searches at Jeena’s residence led to the recovery of approximately ₹32 lakh in unaccounted cash, around 200.5 grams of gold and 12 luxury watches.The gold reportedly included 13 gold coins and seven gold chains, while the watches included brands such as Rolex, Rado, Piaget, Movado, Tissot and Casio Edifice.The agency also froze bank accounts belonging to Jeena and members of his family, with around ₹52 lakh reportedly held in those accounts. The total value of assets seized or frozen in connection with Jeena has been reported at around ₹1.28 crore in some reports.ED Probe Into 2016 Recruitment ExamThe searches are part of the ED’s investigation into alleged large-scale irregularities in the 2016 UKSSSC Gram Panchayat Vikas Adhikari/Gram Sevak recruitment examination.The agency is probing allegations that OMR answer sheets were diverted or tampered with in exchange for illegal gratification.The searches extended beyond Jeena and reportedly covered former UKSSSC officials, a private computer agency involved in OMR processing and alleged middlemen linked to the case.Congress Opposes Scrapping Majas Jogeshwari Rehabilitation Reservation, Cites BMC’s ₹20,751 Crore PAP Housing Need Rawat Says Full Facts Will EmergeRawat has maintained that the complete facts of the matter will emerge as the investigation progresses.While defending Jeena, he said he would accept the findings if evidence established wrongdoing, particularly in relation to the alleged manipulation of OMR sheets. At present, however, he has rejected the allegations against his former aide.The ED investigation remains ongoing, and the seizure of cash, gold and watches does not by itself establish criminal liability against Rawat or Jeena. The allegations and links, if any, will have to be established through the ongoing investigation and subsequent legal proceedings.

Dehradun: Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister and Congress leader Harish Rawat stepped down from two Congress posts on Friday after a large amount of cash, jewellery and other valuables were recovered by the Enforcement Directorate from the possession of his PA, Chandan Singh Jeena. Rawat said the facts of the matter would become clear in due course.The former CM was a member of the Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee executive and a permanent invitee to the Congress Working Committee at the national level.Rawat said he did not want any action or conduct on his part to weaken the party's ongoing fight. "Therefore, after remembering my Isht Devta, I have taken a major decision. I am not holding any government post, so there is no question of resigning from one. However, I am a member of the Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee executive and a permanent invitee to the Congress Working Committee at the national level. I would like to respectfully step down from both these positions, because I do not want the party's struggle to be weakened in any way because of me," he said.Also read | CEC Gyanesh Kumar calls India's electoral process as among most transparent in worldED on Friday said it conducted searches at multiple locations in Dehradun in connection with alleged large-scale irregularities in the Uttarakhand Subordinate Service Selection Commission (UKSSSC) Gram Panchayat Vikas Adhikari (VPDO) Examination, 2016, recovering Rs 32 lakh in unaccounted cash, gold and luxury watches from the residence of Chandan Singh Jeena, presently serving as Personal Assistant to former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Singh Rawat.Rawat acknowledged that Jeena had served as his OSD and had handled important responsibilities during the various positions he held, both in the party and in government. Describing Jeena as a "very decent, humble and hardworking person", Rawat said, "If he tampered with OMR sheets during the recruitment of Gram Sevaks, and if there is evidence to prove that he committed any such wrongdoing, I am ashamed of such an alleged audacious act. However, I do not believe this allegation at all."The former Chief Minister said the stakes in the Uttarakhand elections were very high. "Whenever anyone used to ask me when the elections would be held, I would jokingly say that the elections would take place when the CBI knocked on my door. If it has not come yet, it means the elections will be held in March-April next year," he said."However, this time, instead of knocking on my door, an attempt has been made to knock on the door of one of my associates and create a narrative," Rawat alleged.He said the Congress party and its workers were united in their fight against corruption. "Rahul Gandhi is also raising his voice against corruption in the education system at the national level through the 'Students Ki Goonj' programme," he said.Also read | From frozen borders to a fragile thaw: The India-China story since GalwanOn the functioning of the Uttarakhand Subordinate Service Selection Commission (UKSSSC), Rawat said it had been established keeping in mind the future of the state's youth."We compelled the Public Service Commission to conduct examinations on time. Even during our short tenure, recruitment to top posts was conducted twice. We constituted recruitment boards, including a medical recruitment board and an education recruitment board," he said."If there was any error of judgement on our part during this process in relation to appointments, I apologise to the people of Uttarakhand. However, I would respectfully reiterate my claim that more than 42,000 government posts were filled during our three-year tenure," Rawat added.Rawat said the person appointed as chairman of the UKSSSC had been selected on the basis of his previous service record. He said he himself had removed the chairman or sought his resignation after receiving complaints against him."Whatever terminology one may use, I took action against him after receiving complaints. His appointment was made on the basis of his previous service record. He belonged to a section of society whose representation in power I wanted to ensure," Rawat said.He added that former Chief Minister Major General (Retd.) BC Khanduri had given him significant advice regarding the appointment."He came to meet me twice regarding his appointment. Even today, I believe that Khanduri ji always worked towards ensuring probity and combating corruption," Rawat said.Rawat said that no one could predict where an individual might eventually go wrong. "Could the RSS have known that the person it was appointing as chairman of its environmental forum in Uttarakhand would commit such corrupt acts and eventually be disgraced as chairman of the Subordinate Service Selection Commission?" he asked.The former Chief Minister said irregularities in recruitments and examinations amounted to playing with the future of the coming generations."If I have, knowingly or unknowingly, committed any act that has adversely affected the future of the youth of our state, I consider myself deserving of punishment for it. I apologise to the people of Uttarakhand for any such lapse," he said.Rawat also made a public appeal, saying that if anyone had evidence of his involvement in interfering with appointments or recruitment processes, they should provide it to the CBI, ED or state police."Every person who gets an opportunity to hold a position of great responsibility must always stay away from such reprehensible temptations. If I have committed any such lapse, I reiterate that I consider myself deserving of punishment, and the law should punish me," he said.The searches were carried out on September 10 under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, the ED said in a press release issued on Friday.According to the agency, searches were conducted at the residential premises of the then Chairman and Secretary of UKSSSC, the then Exam Controller, the owner of the private computer agency engaged for OMR processing, and associated middlemen allegedly linked to the conspiracy.The residence of Chandan Singh Jeena was also searched. Jeena had earlier served as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to Harish Rawat during his tenure as Chief Minister from 2014 to 2017, the ED said.