Dhami Govt recommends DoPT action against two IAS officers

In an important decision on Friday, the Uttarakhand Government recommended the termination of IAS officer and former Haridwar Municipal Commissioner Varun Chaudhary and major disciplinary action against the then District Magistrate, Karmendra Singh, in connection with a land scam that caused a loss of more than ₹39 crore to the Municipal Corporation’s exchequer in 2024. The government’s recommendation has been sent to the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), Government of India.

Besides recommending the dismissal of Varun Chaudhary and stringent punishment for Karmendra Singh, the Uttarakhand Government has decided to withhold three increments of former Haridwar SDM Rajveer Singh for irregularities and corrupt practices in the documentation related to the land deal.

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The three officials have been found guilty of gross negligence in the discharge of their official duties and responsibilities during the purchase of land for the Haridwar Municipal Corporation in 2024.

Notably, the Haridwar Municipal Corporation was made to purchase 33 bighas of land from three individuals due to the alleged misconduct of the then DM Karmendra Singh, Municipal Commissioner Varun Chaudhary, SDM Rajveer Singh, and other lower-ranking officials. The land was purchased for ₹54 crore against the market value of only ₹14–15 crore.

This resulted in a loss of nearly ₹39 crore to the Corporation’s exchequer.

After the matter came to light and attracted media attention, the Pushkar Singh Dhami Government ordered a departmental inquiry. The probe subsequently found 12 officials, including two IAS officers and one PCS officer, guilty of irregularities. All the accused officials were suspended from service on June 3, 2025, following the recommendations of the inquiry committee.

The land in question was purchased in November 2024 from the respective owners through three separate transactions. Prior to the purchase, the officials concerned allegedly managed to complete the legal formalities for the change of land use within just six days, a process that normally takes several months.

In addition, Rajveer Singh and Varun Chaudhary allegedly ensured that all documentation and procedural formalities related to the land purchase were completed within the same short period and without adequate scrutiny.