Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has ordered the immediate suspension of DIG and Deputy Commandant General (DCG) Home Guards Amitabh Srivastava over his alleged role in financial irregularities linked to the procurement of uniforms in the Home Guards and Civil Defence department.

Dhami has also directed the formation of a joint inquiry committee to probe the matter. According to officials, the irregularities date back to the 2024–25 financial year and involve uniforms worth around ₹1 crore being purchased at an inflated cost of nearly ₹3 crore.

The issue came to light when Director General of Home Guards, PVK Prasad, noticed that a fresh tender for 2025–26 had been issued at the same inflated rates. Suspecting wrongdoing, Prasad immediately cancelled the tender and ordered a departmental inquiry.

Based on the inquiry’s findings, the DG recommended strict action against Srivastava, including the registration of a criminal case and recovery of ₹2 crore.

“The departmental inquiry found that Deputy Commandant General Amitabh Srivastava colluded with a contractor to procure uniforms at almost three times the prevailing market price, causing a loss of about ₹2 crore to the state exchequer,” Prasad said. He added that the report was sent to the state government with a recommendation for criminal proceedings and financial recovery.

Officials said the uniforms were procured through a tendering process that was allegedly manipulated to benefit a particular contractor. When the same rates surfaced again in the 2025–26 tender, the DG flagged the issue and halted the process.

Following confirmation of the irregularities, further uniform procurement through tenders has been stopped. The department is now considering an alternative system under which Home Guard personnel would receive a uniform allowance to purchase uniforms on their own.

A senior government official said that acting on the DG’s recommendations, Chief Minister Dhami ordered Srivastava’s immediate suspension and the formation of a joint inquiry committee.

Reiterating the state government’s stance, Dhami said Uttarakhand follows a zero-tolerance policy against corruption and that strict action will be taken against any officer or employee found guilty.