Harish Rawat quits Congress posts after ED raids on PA
What's the story
Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat has resigned from two key positions in the Indian National Congress. The decision comes after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raided his personal assistant Chandan Singh Jeena's premises as part of a money laundering probe. The investigation is linked to alleged irregularities in a 2016 recruitment exam by the Uttarakhand Subordinate Service Selection Commission (UKSSSC).
Raid details
Raids at multiple locations in Dehradun
The ED conducted searches at multiple locations in Dehradun on Thursday, including Jeena's home.
During the raids, the agency recovered ₹32 lakh in cash, gold coins and chains weighing about 200.5gm (13 gold coins and seven gold chains), and 12 luxury watches from Jeena's residence.
The agency also froze bank accounts belonging to Jeena and his family members containing ₹52.16 lakh.
Resignation rationale
Rawat's resignation
Rawat announced his resignation from the Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee executive and as a permanent invitee to the Congress Working Committee.
He said he didn't want any controversy involving Jeena to weaken the party's fight against corruption.
"At such a time, if any action associated with me weakens the party's fight, I would never want that," he said while explaining his decision.
Defense stance
Rawat defends Jeena
Despite the allegations against Jeena, Rawat defended him as "a very decent, humble and hardworking person."
He said he found it hard to believe the allegations of tampering with OMR sheets in the Gram Sevak recruitment examination.
"If he tampered with OMR sheets in the Gram Sevak recruitment examination and there is evidence of such wrongdoing, then I am ashamed of this alleged act. However, I do not believe this allegation at all," he said.
Probe focus
Allegations of tampering with answer sheets
The ED's money laundering case is based on four FIRs filed by the Uttarakhand Police and Vigilance Bureau.
The case pertains to alleged irregularities in the Gram Panchayat Vikas Adhikari examination conducted by UKSSSC in 2016.
According to reports, OMR answer sheets were allegedly taken out of secure custody and brought to the residence of the commission's then secretary for tampering.