The Uttarakhand Congress has erupted in outrage, accusing the state government of orchestrating a massive land scam by allotting 142 acres of prime 'heritage' land at the iconic George Everest Estate in Mussoorie to a company tied to yoga guru Ramdev's close aide, Acharya Balkrishna, for a paltry annual rent of just Rs one crore. Valued at over Rs 30,000 crore, this deal has been branded as the "biggest scam in the state's history," prompting demands for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe under high court supervision.

Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee (UPCC) president Karan Mahara led the charge, labeling the allotment a stark example of the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) "crony capitalism." In a strongly worded press release from Dehradun on Sunday, September 14, 2025, Mahara alleged that the three companies that bid in the December 2022 tender issued by the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board—Rajas Aerosports and Adventures Private Limited, Bharuva Agri Science Private Limited, and Prakriti Organics India Private Limited—were all under the direct control of Acharya Balkrishna. "This is a blatant violation of tender rules and anti-collusion laws," he fumed, vowing that the Congress would fight the issue "from the streets to the House" to deliver justice to the people.

The controversy centers on the George Everest Estate, a historic site named after Sir George Everest, the 19th-century Surveyor General of India, offering breathtaking views of the Himalayan foothills. The land, previously developed by the government using a Rs 23.5 crore loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for beautification, was leased to Rajas Aerosports and Adventure Private Limited for 15 years. Mahara highlighted the absurdity: "The government invested public money to enhance land worth billions, only to hand it over for a mere Rs 15 crore in total rent over 15 years." He accused the BJP of turning Uttarakhand into a "den of loot," prioritizing corporate cronies over public welfare.

Also Read: We Stand by Soldiers, Not Terrorists: PM Modi Criticizes Congress

Echoing these sentiments, Leader of Opposition in the Uttarakhand Assembly, Yashpal Arya, earlier demanded an independent probe, either by the CBI or a panel led by a retired judge. "What kind of development model is this?" Arya questioned, pointing out the financial mismatch and potential loss to the state's tourism revenue. The estate, a popular eco-tourism spot, attracts thousands of visitors annually, and critics argue that privatizing it undermines conservation efforts and public access.

The BJP swiftly dismissed the allegations as a "bundle of lies," defending the process as entirely legal. State media in-charge Manveer Singh Chauhan asserted, "Due procedure was followed in the allocation for tourism activities at George Everest Estate." He emphasized that public movement around the site remains unrestricted, countering claims of secrecy or favoritism.

This scandal has ignited a fierce political battle in the hill state, where tourism is a lifeline for the economy. Congress leaders have planned protests and legislative interventions, while the BJP accuses the opposition of spreading misinformation to derail development projects. As the row escalates, questions swirl about transparency in land deals and the influence of spiritual-commercial empires like Ramdev's Patanjali group on state policies. The demand for a CBI inquiry could drag the matter to national attention, potentially exposing deeper issues of governance in Uttarakhand.

Also Read: Congress Accuses RSS of Spreading ‘Anti-Christian’ Narrative