Harish Rawat Resigns From Congress Posts After ED Seizure From Ex-OSD's Home

Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat has resigned from two key Congress positions following an Enforcement Directorate search at the residence of his former Officer on Special Duty, Chandan Singh Jeena. The ED recovered approximately ₹32 lakh in unaccounted cash, around 200.5 grams of gold and 12 luxury watches from Jeena's home during searches in Dehradun in connection with alleged irregularities in the 2016 Uttarakhand Subordinate Service Selection Commission recruitment examination.

Rawat stepped down from the Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee executive and relinquished his position as a permanent invitee to the Congress Working Committee at the national level. In a statement, Rawat said he does not hold any government position and wanted to prevent any controversy surrounding him from weakening the Congress's anti-corruption stance, especially ahead of Uttarakhand Assembly elections.

Rawat defended Jeena as a hardworking and humble person, but said he would be ashamed if evidence proved OMR sheets were tampered with. He stated he had no faith in the allegations against Jeena at present.