Ramdev aide Balkrishna’s firms corner Uttarakhand tourism project, Congress demands probe

A fresh political storm has erupted in Uttarakhand after a report revealed that Patanjali co-founder and Baba Ramdev’s close aide, Acharya Balkrishna, was a shareholder in all three companies that bid for the state’s prestigious George Everest Estate tourism project.

Leader of Opposition Yashpal Arya has demanded a probe into the allotment process, alleging the government had “crossed all limits of corruption.” Arya called for either a CBI inquiry or a committee headed by a retired judge to examine how the 142-acre estate in Mussoorie was leased out for an annual license fee of just ₹1 crore.

“This report has exposed the fraud committed to grab a tourism contract worth billions of rupees,” Arya said, pointing out that the land’s value as per official rates stood at nearly ₹2,757 crore, with actual market worth many times higher. He further alleged that the state had taken a ₹23 crore loan from the Asian Development Bank to upgrade the property before handing it over for 15 years to Rajas Aerosports and Adventures Pvt Ltd — one of Balkrishna’s firms.

The revelations have raised sharp questions about conflict of interest and the integrity of the bidding process, since all three competing firms were ultimately linked to the same individual.

The ruling BJP, however, dismissed the allegations. Party spokesperson Manveer Singh Chauhan said the allotment was conducted lawfully and accused the Congress of spreading “a negative vision” against development. “Before 2012, George Everest House was in a dilapidated condition. Today it is a source of economic activity and attracts thousands of tourists,” he argued.

The Chief Minister’s Office also defended the process, insisting all regulations had been followed. In a statement, it said the estate now hosts Himalayan view programs, birdwatching, astro-tourism, cultural events, and helicopter services, while ownership of the property remains with the Tourism Department.

Despite the government’s defence, the controversy has added fresh fire to the debate over transparency in high-value public projects and the influence wielded by Patanjali’s top brass in Uttarakhand’s political and economic landscape.