Saturday, 24 June 2023 | PNS | DEHRADUN
The notices issued by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to four leaders which include former chief minister Harish Rawat in the eight year old sting operation case has heated up the political environment in Uttarakhand. A special CBI court in Dehradun sent summons to the former CM Rawat, MLAs Madan Bisht, Umesh Kumar and former cabinet minister Harak Singh Rawat on Thursday. These leaders have been asked for their voice samples in the sting CD case.
Reacting to the development, former CM Rawat said that the law would be abided by after receipt of notice by the CBI court. It is ironic that the theft happened in our house and we are the accused too, he added.
The Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Karan Mahara said that the notice by the CBI after so many years shows vendetta politics. He said that some news portals had reported that such actions would be initiated against leaders of the opposition. Mahara said that the case has been reopened in view of the upcoming elections.
It is pertinent to mention here that during the budget session in the year 2016, the opposition BJP supported by nine rebel MLAs of Congress party demanded voting on the appropriation bill. In the political turmoil that followed the Union government imposed President’s rule in the State on March 27, 2016. This decision was contested by Harish Rawat in the court which removed the President’s rule and directed a floor test in the house to prove the majority.
Meanwhile a CD in which Rawat was purportedly shown offering bribes was released by Umesh Kumar who is now an independent MLA from Khanpur Assembly constituency. After this sting operations claimed to be of Harak Singh Rawat and Madan Bisht also surfaced.
