Haridwar, UK: In a major development in the Haridwar land scam case, the Pushkar Singh Dhami led Uttarakhand government has issued departmental chargesheets to two IAS officers and one PCS officer, all of whom were previously suspended following preliminary findings of irregularities.
The officers named in the case are:
- Karmendra Singh, then District Magistrate of Haridwar
- Varun Chaudhary, IAS, then Municipal Commissioner
- Ajayveer Singh, PCS, then Additional District Magistrate (ADM)
The charges stem from the alleged irregular purchase of 2.3070 hectares of unsuitable land near a garbage dump in village Sarai, bought for ₹54 crore by the Haridwar Municipal Corporation. The land acquisition raised red flags over both its location and valuation, prompting a swift inquiry.
Timeline of Events
- May 29: Secretary Ranveer Singh Chauhan submitted a preliminary report after investigating the land deal.
- June 3: Following the findings, all three officers were suspended by the state government.
- July 17: The Personnel Department issued departmental chargesheets and is awaiting the officers’ responses.
Next Steps
The state government will appoint an inquiry officer to further probe the matter. Once the accused submit their replies, they will be questioned formally, and the inquiry officer will recommend the next course of action.
Additionally, a special audit of IAS Varun Chaudhary’s tenure as Municipal Commissioner is underway to examine financial decisions made during his posting.
Read also: Fake IAS Officer Arrested for Robbery in UP’s Etawah; Used Govt Vehicle, Illegal Arms Recovered
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami’s Directive
The investigation was ordered directly by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami after public concerns and media reports questioned the rationale and transparency behind the land purchase.
