Transfer demoralising, dehumanising: IAS who probed Vadra deal

Activist Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday questioned the transfer of a senior Haryana IAS officer, alleging that he was shunted out because he ordered a probe into the land deal allegedly involving Robert Vadra and realty major DLF.

A 1991-batch officer, Ashok Khemka, director-general of land consolidation and land records-cum-inspector general of registration in Haryana, was transferred out of the post within three months of assuming charge.

He had ordered the probe -- on land deals in Gurgaon, Faridabad, Palwal and Mewat since 2005 -- three days ago.

"The Haryana chief minister ought to answer to the country why Khemka has been transferred. What is the transfer policy for IAS officers in Haryana? Under that policy, can an officer be transferred merely because he was investigating Vadra," said the activist.

"Ashok Khemka was transferred by the Haryana government because he was probing Vadra's land deal in Haryana. We strongly criticise that," Kejriwal said.

Kejriwal alleged that Khemka "up-fronted a deal" between Vadra and DLF and ordered its cancellation.

Khemka has written a letter to the Haryana chief secretary, complaining about his transfer.

But he refused to divulge the content of the letter, saying it was a representation given to the chief secretary, but added that he was "anguished" and "suffering" due to 40 transfers in 21 years of service.

"If these problems are brought in sunshine, probably my decisions would appear to be normal and correct. But what happens is, inside, you are guided and directed to behave differently. If you do take an action which you call strong but I would call as correct, and then action is taken against you, it's very demoralising, dehumanising and you feel ashamed of yourself that look, there must be something wrong with you that these things are happening. You get words like 'you don't get along well with others, 'there are shades of grey in life' etc. These kinds of euphemism are created to deviate you from the correct path," said Khemka.

Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said the chief secretary will look into Khemka's complaint.

"As far as the Haryana government is concerned, we have not made out any undue favours to anybody," he said.