(Dehradun): In a major crackdown on corruption, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has approved an open vigilance inquiry into large-scale financial irregularities worth hundreds of crores at Uttarakhand Ayurveda University (UAU), Dehradun. The decision came on 28 November after a series of damning audit reports and preliminary investigations exposed systematic misuse of administrative and financial powers between 2017 and 2024. The trigger: a staggering ₹13.10 crore in irregular payments related to salaries, promotions, appointments and other financial sanctions during 2017–22 alone. Sources say the actual scale of the scam could cross ₹250–300 crore when procurement fraud, illegal constructions and rigged tenders are fully accounted for.
How the scam unfolded
- 2019: The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India red-flagged serious financial irregularities in its audit report.
- 2022: Acting on the CAG findings, the state government formed a four-member committee. A preliminary vigilance probe revealed blatant violations of recruitment rules, backdated promotions, and grant of Assured Career Progression (ACP) benefits even when posts were lying vacant.
- 2023: A special audit for financial year 2023–24 unearthed fresh irregularities. The Finance Department recommended recovery from guilty officers and stringent disciplinary action.
- March 2023: Vigilance Establishment completed its preliminary enquiry and confirmed misappropriation running into ₹250–300 crore.
- An FIR was registered against three top officials:
- Prof. Sunil Kumar Joshi, Vice-Chancellor
- Dr Rajesh Adhana, former Registrar
- Amit Jain, Finance Controller
Despite the FIR and mounting evidence, the case had remained in limbo for over two years. Friday’s approval by CM Dhami for a full-fledged open vigilance investigation has now cleared the deck for comprehensive criminal and departmental proceedings.
Long history of allegations
Ever since its establishment in 2009, Uttarakhand Ayurveda University has been dogged by allegations of corruption. Successive vice-chancellors and administrative officers have been accused of favouritism in appointments, inflated tenders for equipment and construction, and siphoning off funds meant for research and infrastructure.
A senior government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: “For years, the university functioned like a personal fiefdom. Rules were bent at will, files were cleared overnight for favoured persons, and huge payments were released without mandatory sanctions. The CM’s decision sends a strong message that no institution, however prestigious, is above accountability.”
Zero-tolerance stance
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has repeatedly stressed his government’s “zero tolerance” policy towards corruption. The swift approval of the open inquiry – barely 24 hours after the file reached his desk – is being seen as a clear signal to bureaucrats and public institutions across Uttarakhand. Political circles in Dehradun are abuzz that more heads could roll once the vigilance team begins recording statements and examining original records. Recovery proceedings against the accused officers are also expected to be expedited. With the Ayurveda University scam now under the direct scanner of the state vigilance department, the coming months are likely to witness one of the biggest anti-corruption drives in Uttarakhand’s recent history.
