ACB summons Haryana IAS officer for voice samples today, officer rushes to SC Commission

Dahiya, a 2001 batch IAS officer, faced charges related to bribery when he was the commissioner of the Skill Development & Industrial Training Department in Haryana.

IAS officer Vijay Singh Dahiya. (photo courtesy: Haryana govt website)

The Haryana Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) issued a notice to senior IAS officer Vijay Singh Dahiya, for collecting his voice samples on Tuesday in connection with a bribery case for which he was previously arrested. An ACB officer mentioned that Dahiya had been scheduled for voice sample collection on January 24 but didn’t attend, citing illness.

In response, Dahiya approached the National Commission for Scheduled Castes on Monday, alleging that the notice for voice samples was issued despite the Commission’s previous recommendations to maintain a status quo. He highlighted that the ACB has not filed a chargesheet in his case before a court.

Following Dahiya’s representation, the Commission requested a report from the state Chief Secretary and the Director General of the ACB, instructing them to consider Dahiya’s case in line with the Commission’s recommendations from January 16.

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On January 16, the Commission issued recommendations based on the complaint of Gurgaon resident Mukesh Kumar Solanki, expressing concerns about discrimination against SC category officers. The Commission sought a list of corruption cases against officers in the Haryana government and recommended maintaining status quo on cases not sub-judice.

An ACB officer clarified that Dahiya’s case is already being heard by the court, and his summons for voice samples was with the court’s permission. The ACB had filed a chargesheet against another accused, Poonam Chopra, in the same case.

Dahiya, a 2001 batch IAS officer, faced charges related to bribery when he was the commissioner of the Skill Development & Industrial Training Department in Haryana. Poonam Chopra, initially arrested in the case, allegedly cleared bills in exchange for money on Dahiya’s behalf. Dahiya was arrested on October 10, released on bail on November 28, and later reassigned within the government.

Earlier this month, Dahiya was posted as Commissioner of Karnal division. But just five days after his posting he was shifted as commissioner and secretary to the government of Haryana in the archive department which is considered comparatively an “insignificant” assignment in the government circles.