DEHRADUN: Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Saturday in connection with its investigation into alleged irregularities in a 2016 recruitment examination.
Rawat arrived at the ED's regional office in Dehradun's IT Park wearing a photograph of his mother around his neck.
He said the ED had issued him a notice two days earlier, asking him to appear and submit documents, including income tax returns and details of family property. The notice followed searches at the premises of Chandan Singh Jeena, Rawat's former Officer on Special Duty and later his personal assistant.
“The notice asks for information about my family, but it does not explain who is included in the term ‘family’,” Rawat said. “It has also sought old income-tax returns and details of family property. That is why I have come here today.”
Explaining why he brought the photograph, Rawat said: “Remembering my mother, Maa Jagdamba and Mother Earth, I have come to the ED office with my mother’s blessings. I have not called anyone or asked anyone to come. I have come alone, with my mother.”
He also described the photograph as a personal source of support. “What greater proof could there be than bringing my mother’s photograph with me?” he said.
The investigation relates to the Uttarakhand Subordinate Service Selection Commission's 2016 examination for Village Panchayat Development Officer posts, held during Rawat's tenure as chief minister.
According to investigators, some optical mark recognition (OMR) answer sheets were allegedly tampered with after the examination. They alleged that certain sheets were reopened or replaced, incorrect answers of selected candidates were changed to correct ones, and the sheets were resealed to help those candidates secure selection.
The case led to action against several officials associated with the recruitment process, including the commission's then chairman R.S. Rawat, secretary Manohar Singh Kanyal and examination controller R.S. Pokhariya.
Jeena's name also surfaced during the investigation. The ED recently searched his premises in connection with an alleged money laundering probe linked to the case and said it recovered about Rs 32 lakh in cash, along with gold and expensive watches.
Rawat did not comment on the allegations related to the answer sheets before entering the ED office. He said he had appeared in response to the agency's notice and request for records.
The ED has not stated whether Rawat has been named as an accused in the case.
