Rishabh Pant seeks land in Uttarakhand, CM Dhami promises help
Synopsis
Rishabh Pant's midnight social media post tagging Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami — sent from Sri Lanka while on India tour — asking for help buying land in his home state drew a swift official response. The unusual public appeal, from a player whose family already has a house in Roorkee, has sparked debate about why a government nudge was needed for what is ordinarily a private transaction.
Key Takeaways
Rishabh Pant posted a midnight appeal on social media tagging Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami , seeking help to buy land in the hill state to build his first house.
Pant made the post from Sri Lanka , where he is on tour with the Indian cricket team .
He clarified he wants to purchase land at government rates , not receive it as a gift.
CM Dhami responded on 8 August , calling Pant 'the pride of Uttarakhand' and directing officials to assist him within existing rules.
Pant's family already owns a house in Roorkee , Uttarakhand, making the public appeal unusual to many observers.
Pant hails from Uttarakhand but has played domestic cricket for Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) .
India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has appealed to Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami for assistance in purchasing land in the hill state to build his first home, prompting a swift response from the Chief Minister on 8 August. Dhami issued instructions to concerned officials to contact Pant and extend all possible help within the framework of existing rules.
Pant's Midnight Social Media Plea
Posting from Sri Lanka, where he is on tour with the Indian cricket team, Pant tagged CM Dhami late on Friday night, writing: 'Hello sir, how's you ??? (sic) It's a long time for me, especially being local from Uttarakhand. I have been trying to buy land to shift my base from Delhi to Uttarakhand, and I couldn't find anything facilitating and big to live here. I love my Uttarakhand. My humble request.'
In a follow-up post, Pant clarified he was not seeking the land as a gift from the state. 'A gift would be lovely for representing our state at the highest level internationally, but if you allow me, I wanna buy it from Government and on their rates; at least I can have my first house built in my own state and our state. Please be helpful. Seriously, I didn't know how to do it,' he wrote.
Chief Minister Dhami's Response
CM Dhami replied warmly to the cricketer's appeal. 'Dear Rishabh, you are the pride of Uttarakhand. Through your magnificent sporting performance and achievements, you have brought glory to 'Devbhoomi' on both the national and global stages. Your love for your homeland and your desire to return and contribute here are truly commendable,' Dhami said.
'Instructions are being issued to the concerned officials regarding the matter you raised. They will contact you shortly to ensure all possible assistance in accordance with the rules,' the Chief Minister added.
Why the Plea Raised Eyebrows
The midnight social media appeal has surprised many observers, given that Pant's family already owns a house in Roorkee, a city in Uttarakhand. Critics have noted that property dealers in any preferred hill town could ordinarily facilitate such a purchase without requiring the Chief Minister's intervention. Notably, Pant made the post while on an international tour, adding to the unusual nature of the outreach.
Pant, who hails from Uttarakhand, has represented Delhi and the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) at the domestic level throughout his career, though his roots in the state remain a point of pride for Uttarakhand.
What Happens Next
With CM Dhami's response setting the process in motion, state officials are expected to reach out to Pant to take the matter forward in accordance with applicable land purchase rules. Whether the state government facilitates a special arrangement or simply guides him through the standard process remains to be seen.
Point of View
But because the route is. A cricketer of his stature, with family already settled in the state, has access to legal counsel and property networks that most Uttarakhand residents do not. The episode underscores a broader pattern where public figures increasingly use social media as a shortcut to administrative access, bypassing channels that ordinary citizens must navigate alone. CM Dhami's warm, near-immediate response — framing Pant as 'the pride of Uttarakhand' — is politically astute but also raises the question of whether the same official machinery moves as swiftly for a first-time homebuyer from Pauri or Pithoragarh.
NationPress
8 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Rishabh Pant tag Uttarakhand CM Dhami on social media?
Pant posted a midnight appeal tagging CM Pushkar Singh Dhami to seek help in buying land in Uttarakhand's hills to build his first house and shift his base from Delhi. He said he had been unable to find a suitable property and did not know how to navigate the process.
What did CM Dhami say in response to Rishabh Pant?
CM Dhami called Pant 'the pride of Uttarakhand' and said instructions had been issued to concerned officials to contact the cricketer and provide all possible assistance within the rules. The response came on the morning of 8 August.
Does Rishabh Pant already have a house in Uttarakhand?
Pant's family reportedly owns a house in Roorkee, a city in Uttarakhand. This has led many to question why a public social media appeal to the Chief Minister was necessary to facilitate a land purchase.
Did Pant ask for land as a gift from the government?
No. In a follow-up post, Pant explicitly clarified he wants to purchase land at government rates, not receive it as a gift. He said a gift 'would be lovely' but that he preferred to buy the land himself.
Where was Rishabh Pant when he made the social media post?
Pant was in Sri Lanka on tour with the Indian cricket team when he made the late-night post tagging the Uttarakhand Chief Minister.
