Haryana government chargesheets Khemka

Chandigarh, Dec 5: Senior IAS officer Ashok Khemka has been chargesheeted by the Haryana government for cancelling the mutation of the Rs.58 crore land deal between Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s son-in-law Robert Vadra and realty giant DLF.

The cancellation of the land deal’s mutation was done last October.

Khemka was served the chargesheet at his official residence here Wednesday night, while he was away in New Delhi.

"The chargesheet was delivered at my residence to my son as I was away. I will file a reply," Khemka said Thursday.

Khemka has been charged by Bhupinder Singh Hooda’s Congress government of "exceeding his jurisdiction" while cancelling the land deal between Vadra’s company, Skylight Hospitality, and DLF.

Hooda had recently approved the chargesheet against Khemka, who had last year taken action against alleged dubious land deals by Vadra in Haryana, for which he was transferred from his post.

Government sources said Khemka, who has been given 15 days’ time to reply, could get a "major penalty" under the All-India Service Rules, which could include dismissal from service.

Khemka has been charged with administrative misconduct and exceeding his 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.

The senior IAS officer had also ordered an inquiry into the undervaluation of land in four districts in Haryana adjoining New Delhi, in deals done by Vadra.

Both these orders were passed by Khemka after he had been transferred as director-general-consolidation and inspector general-registration.

While he was transferred out Oct 11, the orders were passed Oct 12 and 15.

Khemka had claimed that the orders were passed when he had not yet relinquished charge of the posts.

Khemka has also been charged with violation of service rules, of going to the media and criticising government policy.

While the land deal controversies raged, Khemka had been interviewed by TV channels and other news media.

Embarrassed by Khemka’s actions and statements, the Haryana government had set up a three-member committee of three senior IAS officers to look into the issue.

The committee, in its report, stated that Khemka’s actions amounted to administrative misconduct and found him guilty of exceeding his jurisdiction. That report was submitted without once calling or examining Khemka.

Khemka’s 105-page reply to the committee’s report, in which he highlighted various other land scams and sham deals, and exposed companies associated with Vadra and other influential people, was not accepted by the Haryana government.