BJP MLA’s serious allegations against CM Dhami, Congress seeks judicial probe

BJP MLA’s serious allegations against CM Dhami, Congress seeks judicial probe

S.M.A. KAZMI

Dehradun, May 1

The internal dynamics of Uttarakhand ruling BJP particularly between the state government headed by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and Gadarpur BJP legislator Arvind Pandey has fuelled a political storm with opposition Congress party jumping into the fray.

Although, there has been allegations and counter allegations between the Gadarpur BJP legislator Arvind Pandey known for his strongarm tactics and the administration following charges of land grab by him, his son and his relatives for the past three months, emergence of a letter written by him has led to political slugfest. There were allegations of encroachments against Arvind Pandey at his residence also. The Udham Singh Nagar district administration had served him notices on that count in January this year leading to bitter factional rivalry within Uttarakhand BJP. Arvind Pandey who had earlier served as Education Minister in Trivendra Singh Rawat government had charged Dhami government of ‘targeting’ him.

But the latest controversy erupted following emergence of a letter purported to be written by Arvind Pandey on social media. In the letter, Arvind Pandey had charged that In his letter written on his letter head, the MLA from Gadarapur has stated that Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has been conspiring against him for the past four years. He alleged that, at Dhami’s instigation, a fabricated case was registered at the Bajpur police station on March 13, 2025. Furthermore, on January 20, 2026—in an attempt to exert pressure on him —a false case regarding land encroachment was filed against his family and this case even implicates his 68-year-old brother-in-law, who is physically unable to walk, as well as his sister, who is suffering from cancer. He also mentioned that certain favored police officials are being utilized to exert pressure on him and his family. Moreover, Dhami has allegedly unleashed certain businessmen—specifically those involved in stone crushing and mining operations—to target him. Arvind Pandey further allaged that through certain media personnel who are under government pressure, misleading reports are being circulated against him—claiming, for instance, that he is leaving the BJP or tendering his resignation. He further alleged that the Chief Minister is actively fostering political factionalism and orchestrating economic and social conspiracies against him.

Uttarakhand Congress President Ganesh Godiyal who addressed a press conference today said that the letter showed that even the ruling party legislators are not safe in the state.

He further emphasized that the contents of this letter are of such grave nature that conducting an inquiry under judicial supervision is absolutely essential to uphold the trust of the people of the state.

Godiyal said that he had sought an appointment with the state Governor to highlight the issue but he was not given an appointment.  Godiyal remarked that the BJP MLA has alleged that the head of the state government maintains ties with a notorious criminal—Sukhdev Singh Namdhari, who was convicted for the murders of businessmen Ponty Chadha and Hardeep Chadha, has served an eight-year prison term, and whose case remains pending before the Supreme Court—is a matter of grave concern.

Citing this in his letter, Arvind Pandey states that, in collusion with such notorious criminals, a press conference was orchestrated against him wherein false information regarding his expulsion was disseminated to the public. Furthermore, the son of this very notorious criminal has been appointed to a position of authority as a Minister of State by the state BJP government.

Godiyal has demanded that verifying the veracity of this letter is of paramount importance in the interest of the state. He asserted that a state formed by the sacrifices of martyrs cannot be surrendered into the hands of criminals. He urged the government to ensure that an inquiry into this letter is conducted under judicial supervision, so that the absolute truth may be revealed.

Earlier, members of the Buksa tribe in Uttarakhand’s Udham Singh Nagar have accused a BJP MLA and his son of fraudulently grabbing their land and illegally selling it to a third party.

Nanhi Devi, a Buksa woman from Semalpur, sat on a dharna on April 25 along with her fellow villagers to reclaim her land, which she claimed had been taken over and sold by Gadarpur BJP MLA Arvind Pandey and his son Atul Pandey.

Rules prohibit the sale of land owned by tribals without special permission from the government.

“Atul Pandey manipulated the documents and sold my land to Gurvindar Singh for ₹28 lakh, who then sold it to Makkan Singh,” Nanhi Devi alleged.

The villagers had on April 24 organised a dharna at the office of the local sub-divisional magistrate, Amrita Sharma, and submitted a memorandum seeking the cancellation of the deal, the return of the land to Nanhi Devi, and an inquiry into how many such plots the MLA or his son had sold illegally.

The Buksas are Scheduled Tribes who live in the Terai region of Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh. They are mainly engaged in farming and depend on forest resources for their daily needs.