{
  "id": 6859528,
  "title": "ED searches premises of former CM Harish Rawat’s PA in 2016 VPDO exam case",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/12/ed-searches-premises-of-former-cm-harish-rawats-pa-in-2016-vpdo-exam",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-12T04:05:30.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Hindu",
    "slug": "the-hindu",
    "url": "https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/ed-searches-premises-of-former-cm-harish-rawats-pa-in-2016-vpdo-exam-case/article71457179.ece"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted searches in Dehradun, including the former OSD to former Chief Minister Harish Singh Rawat's residence, as part of their investigation into irregularities at the Uttarakhand Subordinate Service Selection Commission's 2016 Gram Panchayat Vikas Adhikari (VPDO) examination. Search warrants were issued for the former Chairman and Secretary of UKSSSC, the former Exam Controller, the private computer agency contracted for OMR processing, and associates linked to the alleged conspiracy. Specifically, the ED searched the residence of Chandan Singh Jeena, who is currently Rawat's personal assistant and was previously his OSD from 2009 to 2017. The investigation revealed that answer sheets were diverted from UKSSSC's secure custody to Jeena's residence, where the roll numbers of incomplete OMR sheets were noted and handed over to individuals from the private computer agency to fraudulently fill and alter answer bubbles before resealing. In exchange, illegal gratification was provided through middlemen. The ED seized an unaccounted sum of ₹32 lakh, 13 gold coins, seven gold chains, and 12 luxury watches from Jeena's premises. The total value of assets seized and frozen at Jeena's residence is estimated at around ₹1.28 crore, with the value of the remaining luxury watches still to be ascertained.",
  "summary": "The ED said it seized from Chandan Singh Jeena’s premises an “unaccounted” sum of ₹32 lakh, 13 gold coins and seven gold chains weighing about 200.5 gm, and 12 luxury wristwatches of expensive brands",
  "key_points": [
    "ED searches former CM Rawat's PA's residence in Dehradun",
    "Answer sheets diverted to Chandan Singh Jeena's home",
    "₹32 lakh and luxury items seized in 2016 VPDO case"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The ED's search operation signals a widening of the 2016 VPDO exam case to implicate high-ranking officials and associates of former Chief Minister Harish Rawat, suggesting a deeper pattern of corruption.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}