Uttarakhand: In connection with the irregularities surrounding the 2016 UKSSSC VPDO exam, the ED raided the premises of Chandan Singh Jeena—who had served as OSD and PA to former CM Harish Rawat—and recovered a large quantity of cash, gold coins, chains, and expensive watches. The repercussions of this became evident late that night; former CM Harish Rawat announced his resignation from both the Executive Committee and the Permanent Invitee membership of the Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee.
Former Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Harish Rawat stated that irregularities in appointments and examinations amount to playing with the future of the next generation. He remarked that if he had committed any act—knowingly or unknowingly—that adversely affected the future of the state’s youth, he considered himself deserving of punishment. Rawat apologized to the people of the state for this lapse. He also issued a public appeal, stating that if anyone possessed evidence of his involvement in interfering with such appointments, they should certainly hand that evidence over to the CBI, ED, or state police.
सामने टीवी पर खबर आ रही है कि देहरादून में हरीश रावत के पीए के पास भारी मात्रा में कैश और ज्वैलरी आदि पकड़ी गई या पकड़ाई गई, इस तथ्य का खुलासा तो आने वाले समय में होगा और यह सत्य है कि श्री जीना मेरे ओएसडी रहे हैं और मैं जितने भी पदों पर रहा, चाहे पार्टी में रहा या सरकार में रहा,… pic.twitter.com/Z6rZYcVev0
— Harish Rawat (@harishrawatcmuk) September 11, 2026
Rawat emphasized that anyone entrusted with significant responsibilities must always resist such despicable temptations. He reiterated that if he had committed such a lapse, he deemed himself liable for punishment and believed the law should penalize him.
ED conducted searches on 10.09.2026 under PMLA at multiple locations iro UKSSSC VPDO Exam, 2016 irregularities. Cash, luxury watches & bank balances worth ₹1.28 Cr seized/frozen from premises of Chandan Singh Jeena, Ex-OSD & PA to former Uttarakhand CM, Harish Rawat. pic.twitter.com/8OLcxX3QEV
— ED (@dir_ed) September 11, 2026
However, Harish Rawat did not miss the opportunity to link the ED’s action to the upcoming 2027 Assembly elections. Known for his eloquence, Rawat recounted how, when people asked him when the elections in Uttarakhand would take place, he would jokingly reply, “When the CBI comes to my house, know that the elections have arrived.” He also made reference to Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ (Voice of Students) program. At a time when the Congress party is fighting unitedly, I certainly would not want any action of mine to weaken the party’s struggle. Therefore, after invoking my deity, I have taken a major decision: while I do not hold any government office from which to resign, I am a member of the Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee’s executive body and a permanent invitee to the Congress Working Committee at the national level. I wish to step down from both these positions very humbly, as I do not want my presence to cause any weakness in the party’s struggle.
