Haridwar Land Scam: Three Officers including DM and SDM Suspended

DAINIK NEWS BUREAU/HARIDWAR

Three officers were suspended today in connection with the ₹64 crore Haridwar land scam, marking a major crackdown by the Uttarakhand government. With this tough action, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has sent a clear and strong message to the bureaucracy — anyone involved in corruption, no matter how senior, will not be spared.

With the suspension of these three officers, a total of 12 officials have now been booked in the Haridwar Municipal Corporation land scam. This bold and unprecedented move reinforces the Dhami government’s “zero tolerance” policy on corruption and reflects a significant shift in the state’s administrative and political culture.

The scam involved the Haridwar Municipal Corporation’s controversial purchase of cheap agricultural land worth approximately ₹15 crore for a highly inflated price of ₹54 crore. The land, located near a garbage dump, was reportedly unsuitable for any developmental work. Despite this, it was bought without any transparent bidding or proper justification, violating multiple governance norms.

Acting on the findings of an impartial inquiry, Chief Minister Dhami ordered immediate suspension and departmental action against the following officers:

• Karmendra Singh, DM Haridwar – Suspended for administrative lapses in approving the land deal and overlooking irregularities.

• Varun Chaudhary, former Municipal Commissioner, Haridwar – Found guilty of financial mismanagement and procedural violations.

• Ajayveer Singh, SDM – Accused of negligence in land inspection and providing misleading verification reports.

The government has now initiated departmental inquiries and further punitive actions, sending a clear message that accountability will not be compromised—regardless of rank or position. “This is not merely an investigation; it is a cleansing of the system,” said CM Dhami. “No one will be able to escape, no one will be able to hide. The era of corruption and collusion is over.”

This is the first time a sitting government in Uttarakhand has acted so decisively against top officials within its own administration. The move has been welcomed by the public as a turning point in restoring faith in governance.

With this action, the Dhami government has reaffirmed that public interest, transparency, and duty outweigh personal influence or bureaucratic immunity. Officials across the state have now been put on notice—negligence and corruption will no longer be tolerated in New Uttarakhand.