The ongoing delay has sparked a political clash
A high-profile vigilance investigation into a Rs 54-crore land scam in Haridwar has stalled, prompting accusations that the state government is protecting senior officials with political connections. Despite an order for a full probe by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami three months ago, no First Information Report (FIR) has been filed, and key figures remain outside the scope of the inquiry.
The scam centres on the purchase of a 2.3-hectare plot in Sarai village, which was reclassified from agricultural to commercial land, inflating its value and enabling a deal worth nearly three times its actual market price. A five-member vigilance team, led by SP Headquarters Rachita Juyal, has been collecting evidence and freezing bank accounts of middlemen, but sources say a final decision on criminal charges is awaiting “high-level clearance.”
Senior officials suspended, but key names missing
In a sweeping crackdown in June 2025, the government suspended 12 officials, including then Haridwar District Magistrate (DM) Karmendra Singh and former Municipal Commissioner Varun Chaudhary. The service extensions of two other officers were also cancelled. A special audit into Chaudhary’s tenure is underway, with its findings expected soon.
However, a notable omission from the investigation is Vinay Shankar Pandey, a 2007-batch IAS officer who served as Haridwar DM until May 2023. Critics allege that much of the groundwork for the land deal, including compensation processes for the Haridwar ring road, was laid during his tenure.
Pandey’s subsequent career trajectory has raised eyebrows. Soon after leaving the DM role, he was appointed Secretary to the Chief Minister, a post signalling significant trust.1 He later took charge of multiple key departments before being named Garhwal Commissioner in April 2025. In this role, he was also made the nodal officer for crisis management during the high-stakes Char Dham pilgrimage, a position that critics argue has insulated him from scrutiny.
Political blame game erupts
The ongoing delay has sparked a political clash, with opposition leaders accusing the government of a “half-action” approach. Uttarakhand Congress president Karan Mahara described the initial suspensions as “eyewash,” claiming that junior officials were being made scapegoats while more powerful figures were spared. Former Chief Minister Harish Rawat directly implicated the Dhami government, alleging it was protecting officers close to the Chief Minister’s office and insisting that a full probe must include Vinay Shankar Pandey.
The ruling BJP has countered these claims, accusing the Congress of hypocrisy. Party spokespersons argued that the controversial land deal began in 2021 when the Congress was in power, and claimed that senior Congress leaders had “looked the other way” while the deal was being facilitated.
For now, the investigation remains in a state of limbo. Key steps, including the issuance of charge sheets, the release of the audit report, and a final decision on filing an FIR, are still pending. Until these actions are taken, the Haridwar land scam remains bogged down in bureaucratic delays, with smaller names facing action while bigger ones continue to evade scrutiny.
