Fake Kumbh test: Trivendra Singh Rawat seeks probe by HC judge

Responding to chief minister Tirath Singh Rawat’s statement that the “fake” Covid testing during Kumbh Mela did not happen during his tenure, former CM Trivendra Singh Rawat said the timing is not important but the allegation that fake reports were issued must be probed thoroughly and those involved should be booked for attempt to murder. He also demanded a probe by a sitting high court judge.

“It does not matter much whether the issue is old or not. What matters is how reports were prepared without testing, and there should be a thorough probe into the matter,” the former CM told ET on Friday at his local office in the Nehru Nagar area of Dehradun. “Since the matter has taken a political colour, it should be probed by a sitting high court judge. A judicial enquiry will lend more credibility to the probe.”

Rawat said this should not be treated as a simple economic offence since it happened during the pandemic and can have a wide ramification. Considering the severity of the crime, those found involved should be booked for attempt to murder, he said, pointing out that the negative reports allowed people free movement during Kumbh Mela.


He welcomed the probe ordered by the CM and demanded an independent and time-bound enquiry so that there is no politics over the matter. He underlined the need for probe by a competent and credible agency, and said a judicial enquiry is desirable in this case.

On his abrupt exit as CM in March this year, Rawat said he was grateful to the party for making him the CM for four years and that he resigned after the high command’s message that it wanted to make somebody else the CM. “I did my best to work in a transparent manner and adopted a zero tolerance policy against corruption. I worked relentlessly without a break,” he said.

Speaking on his achievements, Rawat said he worked on rural connectivity, giving electricity to every house and providing health cover to all 2.3 million families in the state under Atal Ayushman scheme.

Rawat also defended his decision on setting up the Devasthanam Board trust for management of about 50 temples, including Kedarnath and Badrinath, despite the opposition by priests and a section of the locals. He said he had planned the trust on the lines of trusts for Vashno Devi, Sai Baba and Tirupati Balaji temples.

On his possible new role in the party organisation, the former chief minister said he would do whatever his party decides for him. He recently visited Delhi and met several BJP leaders.