Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Harish Rawat appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in Dehradun on Saturday for questioning in connection with alleged irregularities in the 2016 recruitment exam case.
Rawat, who recently resigned from all party posts after the ED recovered cash and jewellery from his personal assistant’s residence, arrived at the ED office wearing a photograph of his mother around his neck. Before entering, he released a video message, reiterating his commitment to cooperate with the investigation and asserting his innocence.
The ED’s probe is linked to the Village Panchayat Development Officer (VPDO) exam case, where searches earlier this month led to the seizure of ₹32 lakh in cash, gold, and luxury watches from Rawat’s aide. The agency suspects manipulation in recruitment processes during Rawat’s tenure as Chief Minister.
Rawat’s appearance comes amid heightened political tension in Uttarakhand, with the Congress facing questions over corruption and accountability. His resignation from party posts was seen as a move to protect the organisation’s credibility, though he continues to maintain that the allegations are politically motivated.
The ED questioning is expected to play a crucial role in determining the next steps of the investigation, which has already cast a shadow over Uttarakhand’s political landscape.
