The scam centers around the Haridwar Nagar Nigam, which reportedly purchased a non-essential and unusable plot for ₹54 crore—land that was actually valued at only ₹15 crore. The transaction was not just financially dubious but also carried out without any immediate public need or transparency in the procurement process. Officials allegedly bypassed standard governance procedures to execute the deal, resulting in massive financial loss to the state.
Sources confirm that there was no urgent requirement for the land acquisition and that regulatory norms were violated to approve the inflated deal. This has led to the initiation of a full-fledged vigilance inquiry into how and why the land, unsuitable for development, was purchased at such an inflated rate.
High-Level Suspensions: Senior Bureaucrats Under Fire
Following the findings of a preliminary investigation, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami swiftly ordered action against the key players involved in the land deal. The following officers were suspended with immediate effect:
- Kamendra Singh (IAS) – District Magistrate, Haridwar
- Karun Chaudhary (IAS) – Former Nagar Ayukt
- Ajayveer Singh (PCS) – SDM
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In addition, several other administrative staff have been suspended or marked for disciplinary proceedings:
- Nikita Bish – Senior Finance Officer
- Rajesh Kumar – Kanungo
- Kamaldas – Tehsildar
- Vikki – Senior Personal Assistant
The Chief Minister emphasized that the probe is still ongoing and further action may be taken based on the final vigilance report.
Previous and Parallel Actions: Pattern of Misconduct Uncovered
This is not the first wave of action in the case. In an earlier phase of investigation, several municipal officials were also penalized:
- Ravindra Kumar Dayal – Assistant Nagar Ayukt
- Anand Singh Mishravan – Abhiyanta Abhikshan
- Lakshmikant Bhat – Kar & Rajsva Adhikari
- Dinesh Chandra Kandpal – Former Adhikari
The government also terminated the services of Sanchit Lipik Vedwal, and disciplinary action was ordered against him.
A Strong Message from the State Government
This incident marks a first in Uttarakhand’s political and administrative history where so many top-ranking officials have been simultaneously penalized under a sitting government’s tenure. Chief Minister Dhami stated unequivocally that corruption, regardless of rank or position, will not be tolerated.
“This action sends a strong message: no one is above the law. The administrative system and political culture of the state are undergoing a necessary transformation,” said CM Dhami.
Political analysts see this move as not just anti-corruption enforcement but also a signal of changing governance priorities—favoring accountability, transparency, and the strengthening of institutional checks in land and property dealings.