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Harish Rawat Links ED Appearance to Election Anxiety
Harish Rawat is a former chief minister of Uttarakhand.
He was questioned by the Enforcement Directorate, or ED, in Dehradun.
The inquiry concerns alleged cheating and changes to answer sheets in a 2016 government recruitment examination.
The ED searched places connected to Chandan Singh Jeena, who worked with Rawat in the past.
The agency said it found cash, gold and expensive watches there.
Rawat says he does not believe the allegations against Jeena.
He also says the investigation is connected to political concerns before Uttarakhand’s 2027 election.
The ED asked Rawat for documents about his family’s property and finances.
Rawat says his assets were already declared in his tax filings.
Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat appeared before the Enforcement Directorate in Dehradun on September 26, 2026.
The questioning relates to alleged irregularities in the 2016 UKSSSC Gram Panchayat Vikas Adhikari examination.
Rawat said the summons reflected the BJP’s electoral anxieties and the alleged misuse of investigative agencies.
The ED said it seized or froze assets worth about Rs 1.28 crore from premises linked to Rawat’s former aide Chandan Singh Jeena.
Rawat said officials sought additional records on his family’s assets, including ancestral property, and gave him 20 to 25 days to submit them.
- Who
- Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat, the Enforcement Directorate, and people connected to the 2016 UKSSSC examination investigation.
- What
- Rawat appeared before the ED and criticized what he called politically motivated action, while the agency investigates alleged examination irregularities.
- Where
- The appearance took place in Dehradun, Uttarakhand; searches were also conducted at multiple locations in Dehradun.
- When
- Rawat appeared on September 26, 2026, and posted his comments on September 27, 2026.
- Why
- The ED is investigating alleged manipulation of answer sheets and related illegal payments in the 2016 examination; Rawat says the action reflects electoral anxiety ahead of the 2027 Assembly election.
Harish Rawat’s View
Enforcement Directorate’s Investigation
Political motivation
Harish Rawat’s View
Rawat says the action reflects the BJP’s electoral anxieties, the arrogance of power, and possible political use of investigative agencies.
Enforcement Directorate’s Investigation
The ED’s stated action concerns an ongoing investigation into alleged irregularities in the recruitment examination; it has not publicly alleged that Rawat himself manipulated the examination.
Allegations against Chandan Singh Jeena
Harish Rawat’s View
Rawat acknowledges Jeena’s former association with him but says he has no faith in the allegations and describes Jeena as honest and hardworking.
Enforcement Directorate’s Investigation
The ED searched Jeena’s residence and said it recovered or froze cash, gold and watches while investigating alleged diverted and altered OMR answer sheets.
Rawat’s assets and records
Harish Rawat’s View
Rawat says his assets match his income-tax declarations and that collecting records for undivided ancestral land will take time.
Enforcement Directorate’s Investigation
The ED asked for additional documents covering family assets, including ancestral property, and allowed further time for submission.
Key facts
- Agency
- Enforcement Directorate
- Examination
- 2016 UKSSSC Gram Panchayat Vikas Adhikari examination
- Law invoked
- Prevention of Money Laundering Act
- Assets seized or frozen
- About Rs 1.28 crore
- Items reported seized
- Rs 32 lakh in unaccounted cash, about 200 grams of gold, and 12 luxury wristwatches
- Documents requested
- Records concerning Rawat’s and his family’s assets, including ancestral property
- Submission period
- The remaining documents could be submitted within 20 or 25 days
Quotes
Harish Rawat
Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister and Congress leader
“Thanks ED, thanks BJP — you’ve brought me to Dehradun; now let’s see what comes next”
indianexpress.com
“If governments operate with a spirit of revenge, how will the nation function?”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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