Haryana chargesheets Khemka in Vadra-DLF row
Please dont punish my family,says Khemka.
The Haryana government has served a chargesheet on IAS officer Ashok Khemka for “wrongly” cancelling the mutation of land deals between M/s Skylight Hospitality Ltd.,owned by Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s son-in-law Robert Vadra,and real estate giant DLF Universal Ltd.
The chargesheet,served late Wednesday,accused him of having acted with “malice” and “without any authority” and sought his reply within 15 days.
The seven-page chargesheet has accused the officer of intentionally not relinquishing his charge and cancelling the mutation of the Vadra-DLF land deal four days after he was transferred from the post of Director General,Consolidation of Land Holdings. Citing his media interviews,Khemka is also accused of criticising government policies in the media terming it a violation of All India Services (Conduct) Rules.
Khemka had earlier explained to Haryana Chief Secretary P K Chaudhery the reasons that forced him to go to the media and express his “personal views” on certain issues. The state government has used the letter as evidence. The chargesheet is the first of five the government intends to serve on Khemka. Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda has so far approved three chargesheets.
After receiving Khemka’s reply,the government will appoint an inquiry officer who will examine both sides and recommend action. Khemka was in Delhi on leave Wednesday and received the chargesheet Thursday. He termed the state government’s action “extremely shocking” and “mischievous”.
He questioned the government’s move to serve the chargesheet when he was not in town and decision to give it to his 17-year-old son at his house.
In a letter to Haryana Chief Secretary P K Chaudhery,Khemka wrote Thursday: “I am not a fugitive and am on duty today in the office. The chargesheet could have been served upon me in the office. I have no attendant at my residence. I plead with folded hands that memos and chargesheets may please be served upon me in the office and my family members may not be punished for my sins of exposing scams of the high and mighty.” Khemka also
reiterated his claim that his family was being threatened by “goons”.
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