Overview
- A state vigilance audit cleared criminal registration against former civic officials and land sellers and recommended immediate dismissal of ex-Municipal Commissioner Varun Chaudhary, a step the government sent to the Department of Personnel and Training for action.
- The probe, which followed suspensions of accused staff, found prima facie elements of criminal conspiracy and faults in official conduct that the Chief Minister’s Office said justify prosecution under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Prevention of Corruption Act.
- The disputed purchase dates to November 2024 when Haridwar Municipal Corporation bought 33 bighas for ₹54 crore while reported market value was about ₹14–15 crore, a gap the inquiry says cost the civic body nearly ₹39 crore.
- Investigators flagged fast‑tracked approvals and paperwork as a key lapse, noting change‑of‑use and documentation were completed in roughly six days when the process normally takes months.
- Next steps include DoPT review of the service penalties, formal filing of criminal cases by state police and possible court proceedings, an escalation that could reshape accountability for local land deals and public fund management.