The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has intensified its investigation into the Uttarakhand land scam, filing a chargesheet against former Uttarakhand minister Harak Singh Rawat, his wife Deepti Rawat, and several associates. The chargesheet, submitted to a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in Dehradun, alleges a conspiracy involving the illegal acquisition of land parcels worth over ₹70 crore in the Sahaspur area.
The ED's investigation, initiated based on a First Information Report (FIR) filed at Sahaspur Police Station, uncovers a large-scale conspiracy involving fraudulent land transfers and sales at significantly undervalued rates. According to the ED, Deepti Rawat and Laxmi Singh Rana allegedly acquired the land through power of attorney arrangements orchestrated by Birendra Singh Kandari, a close associate of Harak Singh Rawat, despite a court order prohibiting such transactions. These powers of attorney were originally issued by Sushila Rani, who the agency believes played a key role in the scheme. The agency found that the land was sold at rates significantly below the circle rate, causing a substantial loss to the state exchequer.
The properties in question, purchased by Deepti Rawat, now form part of the Doon Institute of Medical Sciences, which operates under the Poorna Devi Memorial Trust, allegedly controlled by Rawat's family and associates. In January 2025, the ED provisionally attached approximately 101 bighas of land valued at ₹6.56 crore, although the current market value exceeds ₹70 crore. These included two major land parcels in the Dehradun district.
Harak Singh Rawat, a former forest minister, switched from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to the Congress party ahead of the 2022 Assembly polls. He has already been under investigation by the CBI and ED for illegal tree felling and unauthorized construction in the Corbett Tiger Reserve.
In a separate but related case, the Pushkar Singh Dhami government has launched a crackdown on a land scam in Haridwar district, suspending 12 individuals, including two IAS officers and one PCS officer. This alleged scam involves the purchase of a ₹15 crore plot for an exorbitant ₹54 crore by the Haridwar Municipal Corporation. The investigation revealed severe irregularities, with the Haridwar Municipal Corporation reportedly acquiring an "unsuitable and practically useless" piece of land at an inflated price. The case has been handed over to the Vigilance Department for thorough investigation.
These cases highlight the challenges in Uttarakhand's real estate market, where rising demand has led to an increase in property scams, forged documents, and unethical agents. Common land fraud scenarios include selling forest or government land, duplicate registries, unauthorized use of power of attorney, and misleading land categories.
The ED's chargesheet against Harak Singh Rawat and others marks a significant development in the ongoing investigation, with potentially far-reaching political implications for the state. The agency has confirmed that further investigation is underway.
