CHANDIGRAH: Ashok Khemka, the IAS officer who alleged persecution by the Congress in Haryana for cancelling a land deal involving Sonia Gandhi’s son-in-law Robert Vadra, has once again been transferred by the state’s new BJP government.
Here are 10 developments in the story:In what is the 45th transfer in his 23-year career, Mr Khemka has been removed as Transport Commissioner and shifted to the low profile Archaeology and Museums Department.
“Tried hard to address corruption and bring reforms in Transport despite severe limitations and entrenched interests. Moment is truly painful,” the 49-year-old officer tweeted, apparently upset at the move by a party that had strongly supported him while targeting the Congress over Mr Vadra’s controversial deal.
One minister has come out in his support. “I am with Khemka. I will speak to the Chief Minister on the transfer. Khemka worked to root out corruption in Congress rule,” said Health Minister Anil Vij.
Transport Minister Ram Vilas Sharma, however, calls it a routine transfer. “Transfer is not a punishment or demotion. It’s an administrative decision,” he told.
Sources say Mr Khemka had sharp differences with the Transport Minister. In December, the officer had ordered district officials to penalise overloaded vehicles, which reportedly left the politically powerful mining lobby angry.
Mr Khemka was appointed in charge of the transport department last year soon after Manohar Lal Khattar took charge as chief minister of Haryana’s first BJP government.
The IAS officer has been transferred multiple times since November, 2012, when he cancelled the sale of 3.5 acres of land in Gurgaon near Delhi by Robert Vadra’s company Skylight Hospitality to real estate giant DLF for Rs. 58 crore.
An auditor’s report said the Congress, which was in power at the time, bent rules to enable windfall gains for Mr Vadra’s company.
The report was ignored by the Congress government, which set up its own inquiry and then charge-sheeted Mr Khemka for “causing damage to Robert Vadra’s reputation” and “illegally” cancelling the deal.
The new government supported Mr Khemka’s stand, but has not yet acted on his request to cancel the charge-sheet against him.