Dehradun, Sep 26 (PTI) Former Uttarakhand chief minister and senior Congress leader Harish Rawat was summoned to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) office in Dehradun on Saturday in connection with its probe into the alleged irregularities in the 2016 state recruitment exam.
Speaking to reporters after leaving the ED office, Rawat claimed that it was not a summons, but rather the BJP’s “power and arrogance”. He said that it was the ruling party’s anxieties regarding the upcoming assembly elections that had brought him there.
“If governments act out of a spirit of vendetta, how will the country function? We are concerned not about ourselves, but about the country and society,” Rawat said.
When asked about the interrogation, which lasted nearly five hours, Rawat said the interaction was very cordial and that he had apprised the officials of the reality regarding “their masters.”
Ganesh Godiyal, the Congress state unit president who accompanied Rawat, alleged that the BJP is attempting to intimidate the opposition through agencies like the ED, CBI, and the Income Tax Department ahead of the elections.
Earlier, Rawat arrived at the ED office wearing a photograph of his mother around his neck, with the word ‘maa’ (mother) inscribed on it.
Before the questioning, he shared a video on social media stating that he had received the ED notice two days ago.
The case pertains to alleged irregularities in the 2016 Village Panchayat Development Officer (VPDO) recruitment examination conducted by the Uttarakhand Subordinate Services Selection Commission (UKSSSC).
In connection with the matter, the ED conducted searches at several locations in Dehradun on September 10, including the residence of Chandan Singh Jeena, Rawat’s current personal assistant, who also served as his Officer on Special Duty (OSD) during his tenure as chief minister.
In his video, Rawat noted that the ED had requested a large number of documents from him. Specifically, the agency sought information regarding his past Income Tax Returns (ITR) and details about his assets and those of his family members.
Rawat said the notice also requested documents related to his family, although he was uncertain about which members were specifically included under the definition of ‘family’.
He pointed out that he has a large family, and his daughters are married, making it difficult to gather old documents for every member in such a short period.
On September 12, Rawat announced his decision to step down from all party posts after the Enforcement Directorate recovered cash and jewellery from his personal assistant’s house. PTI DPT KSI
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