Archive · 12 Sep 2026
Harish Rawat Quits Congress Posts After ED Action
The Enforcement Directorate is investigating alleged cheating in a 2016 government recruitment examination in Uttarakhand.
Investigators searched the home of Chandan Singh Jeena, who worked with former Chief Minister Harish Rawat.
They reported finding cash, gold and expensive watches.
Some bank accounts were also frozen.
After the search, Rawat gave up two positions in the Congress party.
He said he did this so the investigation would not weaken the party’s fight against corruption.
Rawat defended Jeena and said he currently did not believe the allegations against him.
He also said he would accept the facts if investigators prove that Jeena did something wrong.
The investigation has not yet established criminal responsibility.
Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat resigned from the Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee executive and as a permanent invitee to the Congress Working Committee.
The resignations followed Enforcement Directorate searches linked to alleged irregularities in the 2016 UKSSSC Gram Panchayat Vikas Adhikari recruitment examination.
The ED reported recovering ₹32 lakh in unaccounted cash, about 200.5 grams of gold and 12 luxury watches from Chandan Singh Jeena’s residence.
The agency said it also froze bank accounts and that the seized and frozen assets were worth approximately ₹1.28 crore.
Rawat defended Jeena but said he would accept evidence of wrongdoing; the ED investigation remains ongoing.
- Who
- Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Singh Rawat, his former OSD and current Personal Assistant Chandan Singh Jeena, and the Enforcement Directorate are central to the matter.
- What
- Rawat resigned from two Congress organisational posts after the ED searched Jeena’s residence and reported recovering and freezing assets worth approximately ₹1.28 crore.
- When
- The ED conducted searches on September 10, and Rawat announced his resignations the following Saturday; the recruitment examination was held in 2016.
- Where
- The searches took place at multiple locations in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, including Jeena’s residence.
- Why
- Rawat said he did not want the action involving his associate to weaken Congress’s political fight against corruption, while the ED is investigating alleged manipulation of recruitment-exam OMR sheets for illegal gratification.
Rawat’s Position
Enforcement Directorate’s Case
Allegations against Jeena
Rawat’s Position
Rawat described Jeena as noble, humble and hardworking and said he had absolutely no faith in the allegation against him at this stage.
Enforcement Directorate’s Case
The ED searched Jeena’s residence as part of an investigation into alleged irregularities and reported recovering cash, gold and luxury watches.
Recruitment-exam irregularities
Rawat’s Position
Rawat said he would be ashamed and accept the findings if evidence showed that Jeena had tampered with OMR sheets, but he rejected the allegation for now.
Enforcement Directorate’s Case
The ED said OMR sheets were allegedly diverted from secure custody and altered through a private computer agency, with illegal gratification allegedly routed through middlemen.
Political interpretation
Rawat’s Position
Rawat said the action appeared to be an attempt to knock on an associate’s house and craft a political narrative ahead of the 2027 Uttarakhand Assembly elections.
Enforcement Directorate’s Case
The ED has presented the searches as part of an ongoing money-laundering investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
- Resigned positions
- Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee executive member and permanent invitee to the Congress Working Committee
- Investigating agency
- Enforcement Directorate
- Exam under investigation
- 2016 UKSSSC Gram Panchayat Vikas Adhikari/Gram Sevak recruitment examination
- Reported cash recovered
- Approximately ₹32 lakh in unaccounted Indian currency
- Reported gold recovered
- Approximately 200.5 grams, including gold coins and chains
- Luxury watches recovered
- 12 watches
- Total assets
- Approximately ₹1.28 crore seized or frozen, according to the ED statement and reports
