Major Action in Land Scam: Two IAS, One PCS Officer Among 10 Suspended; Haridwar at the Center of the Probe

A massive land scam in Haridwar has shaken the political and administrative circles of Uttarakhand. Acting firmly, the state government has suspended two IAS officers, one PCS officer, and a total of 10 officials. This move follows strict directives from Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. Given the gravity of the case, a vigilance inquiry has been ordered, and the land registration involved in the scam will be canceled.

First Field Posting, First Controversy

This was the first major field posting for Haridwar District Magistrate Karmendra Singh and former Municipal Commissioner Varun Chaudhary. However, both now find themselves suspended. Karmendra, a 2011-batch IAS officer originally from Gorakhpur, joined Uttarakhand from Uttar Pradesh in 2020. Varun Chaudhary, a 2017-batch IAS officer, served as the Municipal Commissioner of Haridwar. They are accused of serious irregularities in the purchase of unsuitable land in Sarai village for ₹54 crore.

Land Worth ₹15 Crore Bought for ₹54 Crore

The Haridwar Municipal Corporation purchased 2.3070 hectares of land, whose market value was only about ₹15 crore. However, the purchase was made for a staggering ₹54 crore. Originally designated for agricultural use, the land was first converted to commercial use and then purchased. What’s more, the land was located near a garbage dump and had no clear utility.

List of Suspended Officers

The officials suspended in connection with this scam include:

• Karmendra Singh – District Magistrate and then-Administrator, Haridwar Municipal Corporation
• Varun Chaudhary – Former Municipal Commissioner
• Ajayveer Singh – Then SDM, Haridwar
• Nikita Bisht – Senior Finance Officer
• Vicky – Senior Personal Assistant
• Rajesh Kumar – Registrar, Kanungo
• Kamaldas – Chief Administrative Officer, Haridwar Tehsil

Earlier, five more officials had already faced action.

Inquiry and Recovery Ordered

The Chief Minister has directed a vigilance inquiry into the entire case. Additionally, recovery will be made from the landowners who received the inflated amount. A special audit will also be conducted of Varun Chaudhary’s tenure as Municipal Commissioner.

Opposition’s Criticism: “Suspension is Not Enough, CBI Probe Needed”

Former Chief Minister Harish Rawat politicized the issue, demanding a CBI or judicial probe. He claimed that a scam of this magnitude couldn’t have happened without political backing. If the government truly believes in its “zero tolerance against corruption” policy, it must go beyond suspensions, he said.

Second DM Suspension in Uttarakhand’s History

This is only the second time in Uttarakhand’s history that a sitting District Magistrate has been suspended. The last such incident occurred in 2003, when then-Pauri DM S.K. Lamba was suspended in connection with a Patwari recruitment scam.

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Conclusion:
The Haridwar land scam not only raises serious questions about the integrity of administrative systems but also reveals how public funds can be misused through collusion among senior officials. All eyes are now on the vigilance probe and the possibility of a CBI intervention, which may uncover just how deep the roots of this corruption run.