After 57 transfers over 33 years, senior IAS officer Khemka retires
In 2019, after being shunted to the archaeology department, Khemka took to social media to express his frustration, saying: ‘Reward for honesty is humiliation’
Senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Ashok Khemka, known for his bureaucratic integrity and uprightness, retired from the service on Wednesday after a career spanning over three decades. The 1991-batch officer of Haryana cadre was transferred 57 times in 33 years — nearly two postings a year — primarily for exposing alleged irregularities, taking on vested interests, and refusing to toe the line in politically sensitive matters.
Ashok Khemka (HT Archive)
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Khemka’s uncompromising stand against corruption first brought him into national headlines in 2012 when he cancelled the mutation of a Gurugram land deal between Congress leader Sonia Gandhi’s son-in-law Robert Vadra and real estate developer DLF.
The decision, which led to immediate backlash from the then Congress-led government in Haryana, set the tone for what would become a career marred by frequent punitive transfers.
During the ten-year Congress rule under former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Khemka was transferred 21 times. Under the CM Manohar Lal Khattar-led BJP government, he continued to face the same fate, with at least seven transfers in the first five years. His postings often included obscure or sidelined departments, such as archives, archaeology, and printing.
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In 2019, after being shunted to the archaeology department, Khemka took to social media to express his frustration, saying: “Reward for honesty is humiliation.”
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In 2019, after being shunted to the archaeology department, Khemka took to social media to express his frustration, saying: “Reward for honesty is humiliation.”
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Khemka retired as additional chief secretary, transport department, a posting he got less than six months ago in December 2024.
On Wednesday, Khemka said he would not be speaking to the media. “I retire at 12 midnight today,” he told HT, asking to call after two-three days.
Born on April 30, 1965 in Kolkata, Khemka earned a Bachelor of Technology in Computer Science and Engineering from IIT Kharagpur in 1988, followed by a PhD in Computer Science from the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) and an MBA specialising in Business Administration and Finance. He also completed his LLB from Panjab University while in service.
Leena Dhankhar is Senior Editor and Bureau Chief, Gurugram, at Hindustan Times, where she has spent over 17 years chronicling the transformation of one of India's fastest-growing urban regions. From starting her career as a crime reporter to leading the Gurugram bureau, her journalism has been defined by investigative reporting, in-depth storytelling and an unwavering focus on public interest.
Over nearly two decades, she has reported extensively across crime, politics, civic governance, elections, real estate, environment, courts, sports, education and entertainment, covering Gurugram, Faridabad, Nuh and Palwal. Her reporting has exposed several major scams and systemic failures, including insurance frauds, waste management irregularities, illegal arms manufacturing units in Nuh, illegal mining in the Aravallis, organised crime networks and governance lapses affecting millions of residents.
Known for her investigative work and exclusive stories, Leena has reported on high-impact national issues, including the Nicaragua charter flight carrying Indian migrants that was turned back amid allegations of human trafficking, exposing the growing network of illegal immigration rackets. Her work has also focused on gang wars, prison administration, juvenile crime, women and child protection systems, the functioning of the Juvenile Justice Board and Child Welfare Committee, and environmental challenges such as pollution, waterlogging and deteriorating civic infrastructure.
Beyond hard news, Leena has extensively documented Haryana's rich heritage, forests and wildlife, bringing attention to the state's historical landmarks, biodiversity, conservation efforts and ecological challenges through immersive reportage and feature writing.
Her journalism has consistently gone beyond breaking news. She has documented Gurugram's rapid urbanisation through long-form narratives and enterprise reporting on issues ranging from pothole-ridden roads, flooding and waste management to the changing social fabric of India's Millennium City. She also writes widely read feature columns, including The Outsider, Changemaker, and Concern for Gurugram, profiling people, places and ideas shaping the city's identity.
Leena is the author of Gurugram School Murder, published by Juggernaut Books, a deeply reported account of one of India's most high-profile school murder investigations. She is currently working on her second book, an investigative work exploring some of India's most significant scams and fraud investigations.
Beyond print journalism, she has expanded her storytelling through public speaking and digital media. She is a TEDx speaker and has produced podcasts exploring Gurugram's transformation, civic challenges and untold stories. Her work reflects a commitment to narrative journalism that combines rigorous reporting with compelling storytelling.
A law graduate with an MBA in Human Resources, Leena brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her reporting, particularly on governance, public policy and legal affairs. She has travelled extensively across India to pursue investigative assignments, often reporting from remote locations and conflict-prone areas in search of stories that matter.
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