Dehradun, September 12, 2026: Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Harish Rawat has stepped down from two party positions following an Enforcement Directorate (ED) search at the residence of his personal assistant, Chandan Singh Jeena.
The development has triggered a political storm in Uttarakhand, with the recovery of cash, gold and luxury watches from the premises becoming the centre of attention. Rawat, however, has said that he does not believe the allegations against his aide and maintained that the truth will emerge during the investigation.
ED Raid Leads to Cash and Gold Recovery
The ED conducted searches at several locations in Dehradun as part of a money-laundering investigation linked to alleged irregularities in the 2016 Gram Panchayat Vikas Adhikari examination conducted by the Uttarakhand Subordinate Service Selection Commission (UKSSSC).
According to the ED, searches at Jeena’s residence resulted in the seizure of around ₹32 lakh in unaccounted cash, gold coins and chains weighing approximately 200.5 grams, and 12 luxury watches.
The seized watches reportedly included brands such as Rolex, Rado, Piaget, Movado and Tissot. The agency also froze bank accounts belonging to Jeena and family members containing around ₹52.16 lakh, according to the investigation agency’s account.
Why Is Harish Rawat’s Name Being Mentioned?
Chandan Singh Jeena has worked closely with Harish Rawat for years. He previously served as Rawat’s Officer on Special Duty when Rawat was Uttarakhand Chief Minister between 2014 and 2017 and is currently his personal assistant.
Because of this long association, the ED action immediately created a political controversy around the former chief minister.
However, the recovery was reportedly made from the aide’s residence, not from Rawat’s home, and the investigation is ongoing. There is no basis in the available reporting to state that the seized cash or valuables belonged to Rawat personally.
Rawat Says He Finds the Allegations Difficult to Believe
Reacting to the ED action, Rawat acknowledged his long association with Jeena but said he found it difficult to believe the allegations against him.
Rawat said that if evidence eventually establishes that Jeena was involved in tampering with examination OMR sheets, he would be ashamed of such conduct. At the same time, he said he currently does not believe the allegation.
His response has added another layer to the political controversy, as the ED investigation continues.
Why Did Rawat Resign From Congress Posts?
Rawat explained that he did not want the controversy surrounding his close associate to weaken Congress’s political campaign, particularly as Uttarakhand enters an important election phase.
He resigned as a member of the Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee executive and as a permanent invitee to the Congress Working Committee.
Rawat indicated that the decision was intended to prevent the controversy from becoming a distraction for the party’s anti-corruption campaign.
Investigation Behind the ED Case
The money-laundering investigation stems from FIRs registered by the Uttarakhand Police and Vigilance Bureau concerning alleged manipulation in the 2016 recruitment examination.
The ED has alleged that OMR answer sheets were taken out of secure custody and that answer bubbles were subsequently altered with the involvement of individuals connected to a private computer agency and alleged middlemen.
The agency’s investigation is continuing, and allegations made during an investigation have not yet been established as guilt in court.
A Political Storm Before Elections
The timing of the development has made the controversy particularly significant for Uttarakhand politics.
For Congress, the episode comes at a politically sensitive moment. For Harish Rawat, one of the party’s most prominent leaders in the state, stepping away from key organisational positions represents a significant political move.
At the same time, Rawat has made it clear that he does not accept the allegations against his aide as established facts.
The ED investigation will now determine whether the seized assets and alleged examination irregularities have a connection to the money-laundering case. Until the investigation and any subsequent legal proceedings establish the facts, the allegations remain allegations.