By Arun Pratap Singh
Dehradun, 30 Aug: Senior Congress leader and former Cabinet Minister Harak Singh Rawat usually remains in the news more for controversies than other reasons. His name currently figures among the accused in the illegal felling of a large number of trees and illegal construction inside Pakhro range of Corbett National Park. A Vigilance Department team today raided his various properties in district Dehradun. The properties raided included an Ayurvedic Medical College in village Shankarpur in Sahaspur (Doon Institute of Medical Sciences), a petrol pump owned by him in Chhidderwala (Amrawati Petrol Pump) as well as a restaurant on Haridwar Bypass Road, the sources claimed. Of course, this is not the first time, that Harak Singh Rawat is facing an inquiry. He has in the past also faced a CBI inquiry in the Jeni Case and is also facing another CBI inquiry in the Sting Case also involving former Chief Minister Harish Rawat and Khanpur MLA Umesh Kumar.
As per the sources, the vigilance team raided the Ayurvedic Medical college, which is registered under the name of Harak Singh Rawat’s son in village Shankarpur. One would recall that this land in Shankarpur purchased by Rawat had also attracted a lot of controversy almost fifteen years ago when it was purchased. It had been claimed that the land was purchased on the basis of forged documents. However, the case did not make much headway as there was obvious lack of political will to take the case to its logical end. Sources added that many documents have been taken into their possession by the Vigilance Officers. They also conducted an inquiry regarding a big power generator which was installed at the Medical College but allegedly belongs to the Forest Department.
It is for the first time that a team of the Vigilance has raided any of the properties of the former minister and senior Congress leader and the incident became the talk of the town, especially in political circles, today.
Director, Vigilance, V Murugesan has confirmed the raids while speaking to the media. It may be recalled that a case had been registered in Haldwani Sector of the State’s Vigilance Department on the matter of illegal felling of trees and for illegal construction within the Corbett National Park area. Some top present and former IFS officers are also facing inquiries in this case. In fact, even the High Court has taken cognisance of the case and has sought the state government’s response to clarify the reasons behind slow progress of the case.
Sources added that as soon as the news of the Vigilance raid was received, Harak Singh Rawat, along with his daughter-in-law, Anukriti Gusain, who manages the college, reached the site. Both had a long argument with the officers from the Vigilance team and tried their best to obstruct the inquiry. It may be recalled that Harak Singh Rawat was the Forest Minister in the Trivendra Singh Rawat Government between 2017 and 2022. He had joined the BJP in 2016 after managing to temporarily topple Harish Rawat Government and after quitting Congress but had returned to the Congress once again in 2022 before the Assembly elections. However, he was denied a ticket by the Congress and, instead, his daughter-in-law and former beauty pageant winner Anukriti Gusain was given the party ticket from Lansdowne. She however lost to Dileep Singh Rawat of BJP.
One would recall that as per the allegations and as confirmed by the investigation by some Central agencies, more than 6,000 green trees had been felled in the Pakhro Range of Corbett National Park to pave the way for a Tiger Safari in that range, which was a pet project of the then Forest Minister Harak Singh Rawat. Not only was there illegal felling of trees but large scale illegal construction without getting the necessary sanctions. Sources in the Forest Department allege that it was due to undue pressure from the then Forest Minister, some top IFS officers chose to look the other way and are now facing inquiry for the same reason.
Harak Singh Rawat is also facing a CBI investigation regarding the much talked about sting case related to then CM Harish Rawat and MLA Madan Bisht. Two months ago, CBI had also issued notices to Harak, Harish, Madan Bisht and Umesh Kumar for voice samples. All four have filed their replies in the CBI court but at the same time have also challenged the CBI inquiry into the case. Once the Harish Rawat Government was reinstated, the government had cancelled the CBI inquiry. Recently, the Congress Party has given the responsibility as coordinator in Rajasthan assembly elections to Harak Singh, following which he is again in the news. He has also been preparing to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha election from Haridwar and is up against Harish Rawat, who had contested the last Parliamentary Elections from there and is again eyeing the same seat. Both, Harish and Harak Singh Rawat consider this as the safest bet for themselves as there is a large population of SC and Muslim votes. However, it has been the BJP which has been winning this seat for the past two elections and is represented by former CM and former Union Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank.
Sources state that the raid continued till the evening hours and it remains to be seen if anything incriminating against Harak Singh Rawat has been found by the Vigilance Team.It also remains to be seen how these raids may affect the political future of the senior Congress leader.
