Dhami Government Cracks Down on Haridwar Land Scam; Action Initiated Against Three Senior Officers – Indian PSU
In one of the toughest anti-corruption actions taken by the Uttarakhand government in recent years, the government led by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has initiated disciplinary proceedings against three senior government officers in connection with the Haridwar Municipal Corporation land purchase scam.
Reaffirming its policy of zero tolerance towards corruption, the state government has recommended the dismissal of former Haridwar Municipal Commissioner Varun Chaudhary from service with immediate effect. Simultaneously, major penalty proceedings have been initiated against the then District Magistrate of Haridwar, Karmendra Singh, for serious negligence in the discharge of his official duties and responsibilities.
The government is sending recommendations to the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) for appropriate action against both officers as per the prescribed rules.
In addition, disciplinary action has also been ordered against the then Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Ajayveer Singh. The government has directed that a censure entry be recorded in his service record and that three of his annual salary increments be withheld.
The Haridwar Municipal Corporation land purchase case had attracted widespread attention after allegations of irregularities surfaced regarding the acquisition of land. Taking immediate cognizance of the matter, Chief Minister Dhami ordered a preliminary inquiry, following which several officials, including the then District Magistrate Karmendra Singh and Municipal Commissioner Varun Chaudhary, were suspended.
Subsequently, a detailed special investigation and audit were conducted to examine the entire transaction and identify responsibility for the alleged irregularities.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has repeatedly emphasized that corruption and misuse of public funds will not be tolerated under any circumstances. He stated that transparency, accountability, and public interest remain the guiding principles of governance and that strict action will continue to be taken against officials found guilty of misconduct.
The latest action is being viewed as one of the most significant administrative crackdowns on corruption in Uttarakhand, sending a strong message across the bureaucracy that abuse of authority and misuse of public money will invite stringent consequences.
