Major crackdown in Haridwar land scam: CM Dhami suspends 10 officials including 2 IAS Officers
In a major crackdown on corruption, Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami has suspended 10 officials¡ªincluding two IAS and one PCS officer¡ªin connection with a multi-crore land scam in Haridwar.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has initiated a sweeping crackdown in the Haridwar Municipal Corporation land scam, suspending ten officials, including two IAS and one PCS officer, for their alleged involvement in the irregular purchase of land near a garbage dump.
The action follows a preliminary report submitted by Secretary Ranveer Singh Chauhan on May 29, which highlighted serious lapses in the purchase of 2.3070 hectares of unsuitable land in Gram Sarai by the Haridwar Municipal Corporation for crores of rupees. The land, located next to a dump yard, was deemed unfit for official use, raising questions about the intent and process behind the acquisition.
Acting promptly on the findings, CM Dhami ordered the Personnel and Vigilance Departments to take strict action against those responsible. On Tuesday, suspension orders were issued for seven officials. These actions add to earlier disciplinary steps taken in the case, where three officials had already been suspended and two dismissed from service. In total, ten officials have faced consequences so far in what is now being described as one of the most decisive anti-corruption actions in the state.
CM Dhami has further directed the Vigilance Department to carry out a thorough probe to establish the entire chain of culpability in the land scam. He has also ordered the cancellation of all related sale deeds and recovery of funds paid to landowners. In a significant move, a special audit of all projects undertaken by the Haridwar Municipal Corporation during Varun Chaudhary¡¯s tenure as Commissioner has also been initiated.
Reiterating his government¡¯s zero-tolerance policy on corruption, CM Dhami stated:
"Since day one, our government has made it clear that in public service, it is not the ¡®position¡¯ but ¡®duty¡¯ and ¡®accountability¡¯ that matter. No matter how senior the individual, if they defy public interest and rules, action is inevitable.¡±
The Chief Minister emphasized his commitment to fostering a new work culture in Uttarakhand that is transparent, accountable, and corruption-free.