Uttarakhand: Dhami government strengthens anti-corruption drive with key arrests

In a continued crackdown on corruption under Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami’s leadership, Uttarakhand registered another significant success.

On Wednesday, the Vigilance Establishment arrested Sub Inspector Devendra Khugshal, in-charge of the ISBT outpost under Patel Nagar police station in Dehradun, while allegedly accepting a bribe of ₹1 lakh.

The complainant had alleged that the officer was handling a land dispute case and had demanded a bribe of ₹5 lakh, threatening to invoke the Gangster Act. Following a discreet investigation, the vigilance team laid a trap and caught the officer red-handed.

Over the past three years, the Dhami government has taken action against more than 150 individuals in corruption-related offenses. Applauding the latest development, Chief Minister Dhami said, “The state government is firm on resolving corruption-free Uttarakhand. Strict action will be taken against any officer or employee who exploits the public. Providing justice to the public is our priority.”

This incident comes shortly after a major crackdown in Nainital district, where vigilance officers arrested the Chief Treasurer and an Accountant of the district treasury for allegedly accepting a bribe of ₹1.20 lakh. “In this sequence, vigilance took a big action in Nainital district and arrested the Chief Treasurer, Nainital and Accountant Treasury, Nainital red-handed while taking a bribe of one lakh twenty thousand rupees,” a government release noted.

The government highlighted that since implementing the "Zero Tolerance on Corruption" policy, over 150 accused, including officers, staff, and mafias, have been sent to jail.

Under the state's anti-cheating law aimed at reforming the education sector, authorities have arrested several organised gangs and brokers. Over 80 cheating mafias have faced strict action, resulting in about 23,000 youth securing government jobs transparently over the last three years. “After the implementation of the anti-cheating law, not a single complaint of cheating was received,” the release added.

Earlier in the day, CM Dhami chaired a review meeting of the Migration Prevention Commission at the Secretariat. He emphasized supporting individuals who have undertaken reverse migration by providing a platform to share their experiences and encourage others to pursue self-employment. He also directed officials to ensure all hospitals are well-stocked with medicines, surgical tools, and essential medical supplies.