Haryana approves Khemka chargesheet, major penalty in offing

Chandigarh: The Haryana government has approved a charge sheet against senior IAS officer Ashok Khemka, who had blown the lid off the land deals done by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi`s son-in-law Robert Vadra in Haryana, informed sources said Friday. Khemka is likely to be given a major penalty under the service rules, the well-placed government sources told IANS.

The controversial Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, however, told IANS Friday evening that he had not got any charge sheet or notice from the government regarding this. "I cannot say anything on this. I have not received any charge sheet or notice. You can ask the chief secretary about this," said. Khemka has been charged with administrative misconduct and exceeding jurisdiction while cancelling the mutation of the Rs 58 crore land deal between Vadra`s company, Skylight Hospitality, and realty giant DLF in October 2012. He had also ordered an inquiry into the undervaluation of land deals done in four districts in Haryana, adjoining New Delhi, by Vadra. Both orders were passed by Khemka after he had been transferred as director general, consolidation and inspector general, registration by the state government. While he was transferred Oct 11, the orders were passed Oct 12 and 15. Khemka had claimed that the orders were passed when he had not relinquished charge of these posts. He has also being charge sheeted for going against service rules by going to the media openly and even criticizing government policies. Khemka had freely given TV and other media interviews while Vadra`s land controversies came out. Embarrassed by Khemka`s actions and statements, the Bhupinder Singh Hooda-led Congress government had set up a three-member committee of three senior IAS officers to look into the issue. The committee, in its report, had stated that Khemka`s actions amounted the administrative misconduct and exceeding jurisdiction. The committee gave its report even without calling or examining Khemka once. Khemka`s 105-page reply to the committee`s report, in which he highlighted various other land scams and sham deals and companies associated with Vadra and other influential people, was not accepted by the Haryana government. The committee report was forwarded by Chief Secretary PK Chaudhary to Hooda recently. Hooda has now given his approval to charge sheet Khemka. The major penalty, under All-India Service Rules, could include dismissal from service. IANS