IAS officer Ashok Khemka may get Centre deputation

Haryana cadre IAS officer Ashok Khemka, who had cancelled the mutation of a land deal involving Congress chief Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law Robert Vadra, may be deputed to the Centre soon.

Haryana cadre IAS officer Ashok Khemka, who had cancelled the mutation of a land deal involving Congress chief Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law Robert Vadra, may be deputed to the Centre soon.

The Civil Services Board (CSB) headed by union cabinet secretary Ajit Kumar Seth has reportedly cleared his name for a central deputation despite the officer facing a charge sheet and vigilance inquiry in the Vadra land deal controversy.

Haryana state officials said, "The state government has not given him a vigilance clearance."

A CSB nod means that Khemka's name will now be put on the list for central staffing schemes.

Khemka, a 1991-batch Haryana cadre IAS officer had created a furore in 2012 when he cancelled the mutation of 3.5-acre land in Gurgaon's Shikohpur village, the contract that was sold by Vadra to realty major DLF.

Last September, the state government ordered Khemka to be chargesheeted for major penalty. He was held liable for administrative misconduct and overstepping jurisdiction in passing orders to cancel mutation of the 3.5-acre land and indulging in public criticism of the state's actions and policies.

The state government also ordered a probe by the vigilance bureau against Khemka for alleged irregularities in the purchase of 10,000 quintal of green gram during his tenure as managing director in Haryana Seed Development Corporation (HSDC). Khemka's supporters, however, allege the actions were intended to harass him.