Haridwar Land Scam: Govt Recommends Officer’s Dismissal
Major penalties imposed on officials as Dhami government intensifies anti-corruption action
- Dismissal of former Municipal Commissioner recommended.
- Former Haridwar DM faces major disciplinary action.
- SDM penalised with adverse entry and increment cut.
- Dhami government reiterates zero tolerance towards corruption.
GG News Bureau
Dehradun, 20th June: The Uttarakhand government has initiated strict disciplinary action in the Haridwar land purchase scam, recommending the immediate dismissal of former Municipal Commissioner Varun Chaudhary and imposing a major penalty on former District Magistrate Karmendra Singh for serious negligence in performing official duties.
According to sources, recommendations for action against the two officers are being forwarded to the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) as per the applicable service rules.
The government has also ordered an adverse entry in the service record of Ajayveer Singh, who was serving as the Sub-Divisional Magistrate at the time of the alleged irregularities, and directed withholding of three of his annual increments.
Earlier, the Pushkar Singh Dhami-led government had suspended several officials, including former DM Karmendra Singh and former Municipal Commissioner Varun Chaudhary, after preliminary investigations indicated irregularities in the land purchase case. A detailed probe was subsequently conducted through a special investigation and audit.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said the government would not compromise on corruption and asserted that transparency, accountability and public interest remain the top priorities of his administration. He said the strictest possible action would be taken against any official found guilty of misconduct.
An official statement described the move as one of Uttarakhand’s most significant administrative crackdowns on corruption, sending a strong message against misuse of public funds and abuse of official authority.
Meanwhile, Dhami highlighted that major infrastructure projects in Uttarakhand have accelerated since the formation of the Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre in 2014, including the Rishikesh-Karnaprayag Rail Project, the All-Weather Road Project, airport expansion and other connectivity initiatives.
