Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat appeared before the Enforcement Directorate in Dehradun in connection with a probe into alleged irregularities in a 2016 recruitment examination. The investigation concerns the Village Panchayat Development Officer examination conducted by the Uttarakhand Subordinate Service Selection Commission during Rawat’s tenure. Investigators are examining allegations that OMR answer sheets were altered after the examination. The ED also sought income-tax records and family property details from Rawat, following searches linked to Chandan Singh Jeena, a former aide, according to the supplied report.

Former Uttarakhand CM Harish Rawat Appears Before ED in Recruitment Case 

Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat appeared before the Enforcement Directorate in Dehradun as investigations continue into alleged irregularities linked to a 2016 recruitment examination held during his tenure.

The Harish Rawat ED probe made headway on Saturday with the former Uttarakhand Chief Minister appearing before the Enforcement Directorate’s regional office in Dehradun in connection with a recruitment examination probe.

Dehradun IT Park: Harish Rawat reached the ED office with a photograph of his mother hanging around his neck, drawing attention before entering the proceedings.

"Two days ago, the Enforcement Directorate had issued a notice to him to appear and sought documents like income tax returns and details of family properties," Harish Rawat said.

It is learnt that the notice was issued after the Enforcement Directorate carried out searches at the premises of Chandan Singh Jeena, who was earlier an Officer on Special Duty and then personal assistant of Harish Rawat.

Harish Rawat said before entering the office that the notice asked for information about family members but did not clearly specify who would come under the definition.

The ex-chief minister said officials also asked for older income tax records and property-related information which, he said, prompted him to appear before investigators.

Recruitment Exam Investigation Linked to 2016 Selection Process

The probe is into the 2016 exam for Village Panchayat Development Officer posts held by the Uttarakhand Subordinate Service Selection Commission when Harish Rawat was the chief minister.

Some optical mark recognition, or OMR, answer sheets allegedly were manipulated by investigators after the examination process had been completed and officially logged.

Some answer sheets have allegedly been reopened or changed, with wrong answers related to selected candidates allegedly changed to correct answers, investigators said.

The authorities said that the answer sheets were resealed afterwards, enabling some candidates to improve their marks and get selected in the recruitment process.

The case has resulted in the booking of several officials associated with the recruitment process, including former commission chairman R.S. Rawat, secretary Manohar Singh Kanyal and examination controller R.S. Pokhariya.

The charges are still being investigated, and officials continue to review documents, records and other materials related to the recruitment examination process.

Searches, Seizures and Enforcement Directorate Inquiry

Chandan Singh Jeena’s name came up in the bigger probe. Recently, the Enforcement Directorate conducted raids over an alleged money laundering probe in connection with the case.

Officials recovered around Rs 32 lakh in cash, along with gold and several expensive watches from the premises searched, the agency said.

Before stepping into the Enforcement Directorate office, Harish Rawat did not speak on the OMR answer sheets allegations or the larger controversy of the recruitment examination.

He said he responded to the notice and document requests issued by investigators, not the subpoena, and appeared before the agency.

Harish Rawat also spoke on the importance of carrying the photograph of his mother and said he had come with her blessings and did not ask the supporters to accompany him.

While attending the Enforcement Directorate office, he received personal support from Maa Jagdamba and Mother Earth, he said in comments before the appearance, remembering his mother.

However, the Enforcement Directorate has not made it public whether Harish Rawat has been made an accused in the matter, according to a Sprouts News report.

The investigation is ongoing, and further examination of records, financial documents and evidence connected to recruitment is expected, as authorities continue their probe into alleged irregularities surrounding the 2016 examination.