HarrisonHinson2 at 20:48, 4 February 2026

2026-02-04T20:48:10Z

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{{Short description|Indian Administrative Service officer (born 1965)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2016}}
{{Infobox person
|honorific_suffix = [[Indian Administrative Service|IAS]] (Retd.)
| name = Ashok Khemka
| image = Ashok Khemka - Kolkata 2016-10-07 8206.JPG
| caption = Ashok Khemka at a public event in Kolkata, 2016
| known_for = IAS officer who cancelled the mutation of the Robert Vadra–DLF land deal
| education = {{Plainlist|
* [[IIT Kharagpur]] (B.Tech)<ref name="Qualification">{{cite web | last= | first= | title=Ashok Khemka retires: Flagged Vadra land deal, IAS career marked by 57 transfers | website=Moneycontrol | date=30 April 2025 | url=https://www.moneycontrol.com/city/ashok-khemka-retires-today-ias-career-marked-by-57-transfers-in-34-years-flagged-vadra-dlf-land-deal-prize-of-honesty-is-article-13008849.html | access-date=2 May 2025}}</ref>
* [[Tata Institute of Fundamental Research]] (Ph.D)<ref name="Qualification"/>
* MBA<ref name="ERG" />
* [[Indira Gandhi National Open University]] (MA)<ref name="Qualification"/>
}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1965|4|30|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Kolkata]], [[West Bengal]], [[India]]
| occupation = [[Bureaucrat]]
| employer = [[Government of India]]
| organisation = [[Indian Administrative Service]]
| years_active = 1991–2025
}}

'''Ashok Khemka''' (born 30 April 1965) is a retired [[Indian Administrative Service|Indian Administrative Service officer]] of 1991 batch from [[Haryana]] cadre who formerly served as Additional Chief Secretary in the [[Government of Haryana]].<ref name="IT Khemka">{{Cite news|title=Senior IAS officer Ashok Khemka, transferred 57 times in 34 years, retires today|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/ashok-khemka-ias-officer-haryana-retires-robert-vadra-land-deal-57-transfers-2717215-2025-04-30 |access-date=2025-07-22 |work=[[India Today]]}}</ref> During his career of more than three decades, he worked solely for the state of [[Haryana]]. without a single deputation to the Central Government.<ref name="Empanelment Center Khemka">{{Cite news|title=DoPT turns down Khemka request for empanelment, cites 'nil central experience'|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/dopt-turns-down-khemka-request-for-empanelment-cites-nil-central-experience-7557070/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250724023948/https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/dopt-turns-down-khemka-request-for-empanelment-cites-nil-central-experience-7557070/|url-status=dead|archive-date=2025-07-24|access-date=2025-07-22 |work=[[The Indian Express]]}}</ref> He has been transferred 66 times during his career,<ref>{{Cite web |title=IAS officer Ashok Khemka transferred for 52nd time in 27-year career |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/ashok-khemka-transfer-52nd-time-haryana-1469613-2019-03-03 |website=[[India Today]]|date=3 March 2019 }}</ref> making him the second-most transferred bureaucrat in [[Haryana]], surpassed only by retired IAS officer Pradeep Kasni.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/kasni-retires-today-after-71-transfers-in-35-years/articleshow/63102124.cms |title=kasni retires today after 71 transfers in 35 years |access-date=22 February 2020 |website=[[Times of India]] |date=28 February 2018}}</ref> Regarded as a [[Whistleblowing|whistleblower]], Khemka is known for reporting irregularities and corruption in various departments where he served, including investigations into land deals during the tenure of former [[List of chief ministers of Haryana|Haryana Chief Minister]] [[Bhupinder Singh Hooda|Bhupinder Hooda]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Krar |first=Prashant |date=2013-04-05 |title=Whistle blower Ashok Khemka in Robert Vadra-DLF land deal transferred for 44th time |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/whistle-blower-ashok-khemka-in-robert-vadra-dlf-land-deal-transferred-for-44th-time/articleshow/19386465.cms |access-date=2025-01-09 |work=The Economic Times |issn=0013-0389}}</ref> He has been associated with inquiries into cases such as the [[DLF land grab case]], the [[Sonipat-Kharkhoda IMT land case]], and the [[Garhi Sampla Uddar Gagan land case]].

==Early life and education==
Ashok Khemka was born in [[Kolkata]], India. He earned a [[B.Tech|Bachelor of Technology]] in [[Computer Science]] and [[Engineering]] from [[IIT Kharagpur]] in 1988, followed by a [[Ph.D.]] in [[Computer Science]] from the [[Tata Institute of Fundamental Research]] (TIFR) and an [[MBA]] specialising in [[Business Administration]] and [[Finance]].<ref name="KhemkaTOI">{{cite web | last= | first= | title=IAS Ashok Khemka: Officer With 57 Transfers Bids Adieu to Public Service | website=The Times of India | date=30 April 2025 | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/ias-officer-ashok-khemka-who-saw-57-transfers-bids-adieu-to-public-service-today/articleshow/120747492.cms | access-date=2 May 2025}}</ref> He also holds an [[Master of Arts|MA]] in Economics from the [[Indira Gandhi National Open University]] (IGNOU).<ref name="The Times of India">{{Cite news |date=2016-07-15 |title=Khemka wants to be lawyer, tops entrance |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/khemka-wants-to-be-lawyer-tops-entrance/articleshow/53219058.cms |access-date=2024-12-28 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> In 2016, he expressed interest in becoming a lawyer and later earned [[Bachelor of Laws]] degree from [[Panjab University]].<ref name="The Times of India"/>

==Career==
===Civil service===
After clearing the [[Civil Services Examination]], Khemka joined the [[Indian Administrative Service]] (IAS) and was placed into the Haryana cadre<ref name="KhemkaMint">{{cite web | last=Jeelani | first=Gulam | title=Ashok Khemka, IAS officer who flagged Robert Vadra land deal, retires today after 57 transfers. All you need to know | website=mint | date=30 April 2025 | url=https://www.livemint.com/news/india/ashok-khemka-ias-officer-who-flagged-robert-vadra-land-deal-retires-today-after-57-transfers-all-you-need-to-know-11745978781333.html | access-date=2 May 2025}}</ref> of the 1991 batch.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/India/Who-is-Ashok-Khemka/Article1-945730.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018172617/http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/India/Who-is-Ashok-Khemka/Article1-945730.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 October 2012|title=Whistleblower Khemka shifted 40 times in 21 years|newspaper=[[Hindustan Times]]}}</ref> He has been transferred repeatedly by various state governments in Haryana after he exposed alleged corruption in the departments he was posted to.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/time-to-check-the-khemka-syndrome/article4782066.ece|title=Time to check the Khemka syndrome |newspaper=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/i-am-not-a-quitter-will-stay-in-the-system-ashok-khemka-352878|title=I am not a quitter, will stay in the system: Ashok Khemka|newspaper=[[NDTV]]|access-date= 11 April 2013|date=11 April 2013}}</ref>

In 2012, Khemka came under limelight he canceled a land deal worth {{INRConvert|57|m}} crore between [[DLF (company)|DLF Universal]], a major real estate player. Khemka cited corrupt practices as the reason for halting the deal.<ref name="Khemka_2012">{{cite web | last=Dey | first=Soumik | title=Rocking chair man | website=theweek.in | date=19 July 2015 | url=https://www.theweek.in/theweek/specials/rocking-chair-man.html | access-date=2 May 2025}}</ref> This led to backlash, and in 2013, the Haryana government, under then chief minister [[Bhupinder Singh Hooda]], filed a charge-sheet accusing him of overstepping his authority.<ref name="Khemka_2012"/> The charge-sheet was leaked to the media before Khemka even received it, with a Hindi newspaper publishing it ahead of time. As a result, Khemka was transferred from his position overseeing land acquisitions to a less influential role in the archives and archaeology department.<ref name="HT">{{cite web | last=Dhankhar | first=Leena | title=After 57 transfers over 33 years, senior IAS officer Khemka retires | website=Hindustan Times | date=1 May 2025 | url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/after-57-transfers-over-33-years-senior-ias-officer-khemka-retires-101746039137282.html | access-date=2 May 2025}}</ref>

Khemka was posted as Secretary to the Govt. of [[Haryana]], Department of Archives and Archaeology on 4 April 2013 and was also given the charge of DG Archives and Archaeology on 26 April 2013.<ref name=TR>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/ias-officer-ashok-khemka-transferred-again/article4580639.ece |title=Khemka shifted again as he exposes seedy deal|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref><ref name=ERG>{{cite web|title=Executive Record of Ashok Khemka|url=http://persmin.nic.in/ersheet/MultipleERS.asp?HiddenStr=01HY020600|publisher=GOI|access-date=19 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019191841/http://persmin.nic.in/ersheet/MultipleERS.asp?HiddenStr=01HY020600|archive-date=19 October 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> This was his 45th posting in his 20-year career, excluding his 2-year training period.<ref name=ERG /> He also reported a deal that he considered irregular and requested an inquiry by the [[Central Bureau of Investigation|CBI]]. The government of Haryana refused to investigate{{clarify|reason=CBI is a national body - I do not understand why the govt of Haryana had a say in the matter|date=August 2013}} and a Bhiwani-based [[NGO]] filed [[Public-interest litigation (India)|PIL]] on the matter.{{citation needed|date=August 2013}} On 18 October 2013, the [[Central Bureau of Investigation|CBI]] registered a preliminary enquiry into alleged irregularities in the purchase of wheat seeds in [[Haryana Seeds Development Corporation]], seeking registration of a case against officials of the National Cooperative Consumers Federation and the National Agriculture Cooperative Marketing Federation for allegedly selling seeds at inflated prices to [[Haryana Seeds Development Corporation]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/cbi-begins-inquiry-into-ashok-khemkas-complaint/articleshow/24362108.cms|title=CBI begins inquiry into Ashok Khemka's complaint|newspaper=The Economic Times|access-date= 19 October 2013|date=19 October 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.newsx.com/national/top-stories/itemlist/tag/Haryana%20Seed%20Development%20Corporation|title=CBI begins inquiry into Khemka's complaint on seed supply|newspaper=NewsX|access-date=18 October 2013|date=18 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020083850/http://www.newsx.com/national/top-stories/itemlist/tag/Haryana%20Seed%20Development%20Corporation|archive-date=20 October 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Khemka was previously the [[Managing Director]] in [[Haryana Seeds Development Corporation]].<ref name="TR" />

===Chargesheets filed against Khemka===
In October 2013, two chargesheets<ref>{{cite news|url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/haryana/ashok-khemka-to-be-chargesheeted-haryana-govt_879610.html|title=Haryana approves Khemka chargesheet, major penalty in offing|publisher=Zeenews|date=27 September 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.oneindia.com/new-delhi/sonia-gandhi-son-in-law-robert-vadra-back-khemka-chargesheeted-again-1325624.html|title=Robert Vadra back to haunt Ashok Khemka, chargesheeted again|publisher=One India Portal|date=17 October 2013}}</ref> were filed against Khemka, one of which accused him of failing his responsibilities at the Haryana Seed Development Corporation.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/haryana-government-gives-approval-for-another-chargesheet-against-ashok-khemka/428847-37-64.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020133158/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/haryana-government-gives-approval-for-another-chargesheet-against-ashok-khemka/428847-37-64.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=20 October 2013|title=Haryana govt gives the go ahead for charging Khemka in a case of seeds sales|publisher=IBN Live|date=17 October 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/10-chargesheets-will-be-filed-against-me-ias-officer-ashok-khemka-to-ndtv-434205|title='10 chargesheets will be filed against me,' IAS officer Ashok Khemka to NDTV|publisher=[[NDTV]]|date=19 October 2013}}</ref>

===Transfers under Khattar regime===
The transfers continued under the [[Manohar Lal Khattar]]-led government, after the [[Bharatiya Janata Party campaign for the 2014 Indian general election|Bharatiya Janata Party]] [[2014 Haryana Legislative Assembly election|came to power in 2014]]. Khemka was made the transport commissioner in November 2014, truck owners went on strike after he launched a drive against overloading, oversized goods vehicles and irregularities in the [[Transport Ministry (Haryana)|state's transport]] licensing system. In April 2015, he was once again moved to the [[Haryana State Directorate of Archaeology & Museums|archaeology department]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/nation/story/20150427-ashok-khemka-bjp-emulates-congress-transport-lobby-mining-mafias-818181-2015-04-16 |title=BJP emulates Congress, transfers Ashok Khemka again under pressure from transport lobby, mining mafias |website=[[India Today]]|date=16 April 2015 }}</ref>

In October 2017, Khemka, as the principal secretary of the [https://socialjustice.gov.in/ Department of Social Justice and Women Empowerment], reportedly disagreed with Minister Krishna Bedi over the latter allegedly misusing a department vehicle for over a year. He also reportedly objected to special treatment given to Khattar's staff on the eve of Diwali. In November, he was transferred as the principal secretary in the youth affairs and sports department.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/ashok-khemka-transferred-51st-time-1084959-2017-11-12 |title=Deja vu, Ashok Khemka tweets after Haryana IAS officer gets transferred 51st time |website=[[India Today]]|date=12 November 2017 }}</ref> In March 2019, he was transferred, for the 52nd time, to the Science and Technology Department.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/ashok-khemka-transfer-52nd-time-haryana-1469613-2019-03-03 |title=IAS officer Ashok Khemka transferred for 52nd time in 27-year career |website=[[India Today]]|date=3 March 2019 }}</ref>

===Posting detail===
As of March 2019, Khemka had been posted in 51 departments and was DG of Archives & Archaeology in [[Haryana state]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://persmin.nic.in/ersheet/MultipleERS.asp?HiddenStr=01HY020600|title=Complete Bio-Data Ashok Khemka|publisher=National Informatics Centre, Government of India Portal|access-date=16 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019191841/http://persmin.nic.in/ersheet/MultipleERS.asp?HiddenStr=01HY020600|archive-date=19 October 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Breach of trust allegations===
In May 2022, former Haryana IAS officer Roshan Lal, former chairman of a committee for selecting candidates in the Haryana State Warehousing Corporation (HSWC) during Ashok Khemka's tenure as managing director, accused Khemka of appointing ineligible candidates as managers (Grade-I) based on dubious considerations, causing a breach of trust. When asked, Khemka declined to comment on the issue.<ref>{{cite web |title=Khemka twisting facts, presented ineligible persons before us, says former IAS |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/chandigarh-news/khemka-twisting-facts-presented-ineligible-persons-before-us-says-former-ias-101652815010810.html |date=18 May 2022 |website=[[Hindustan Times]]}}</ref>

==Highlighted land deal corruption==
Khemka highlighted land deal corruption in and around [[Gurgaon]], India for conversion of commercial land, reportedly between {{INRConvert|20000|c|0}} to {{INRConvert|350000|c|0}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ndtv.com/video/player/the-buck-stops-here/ias-officer-ashok-khemka-on-his-report-on-robert-vadra-land-deals/287016?h_also_see|title=IAS officer Ashok Khemka on his report on Robert Vadra land deals|publisher=NDTV News}}</ref> Khemka was most recently Haryana's Director-General of Land Consolidation and Land Records-cum-Inspector-General of Registration. During his 80-day stint in the department, Khemka detected irregularities in land transactions involving the transfer of panchayat land worth several hundred crores of rupees to newly created real estate companies.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/haryana-ias-officer-probing-vadra-dlf-deal-transferred_805878.html |title=Haryana IAS officer probing Vadra-DLF deal transferred|date=16 October 2012|publisher=Zee News}}</ref> Khemka was transferred on 11 October 2012 and took action on the matter after his transfer. He claims to have been harassed and transferred 40 times in the last 21 years for doing his job.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.timesnow.tv/Officer-transferred-40-times-in-21-years/articleshow/4412515.cms |title=Haryana IAS officer transferred|work=Times of India}}</ref> As the managing director of [[Haryana Seeds Development Corporation]] Limited, Khemka exposed its irregularities, following which he was transferred on 4 April 2013 and was replaced by B. S. Duggal, a Deputy Secretary five ranks below him.<ref name=TR /> Khemka is often regarded as a whistleblower.<ref name=":0" />

===Vadra land deal===
The State Government constituted an Inquiry Committee of three senior IAS officers to investigate Khemka's cancellation of Vadra's land deal in the village [[Sikhohpur]] ([[Gurgaon]]). Khemka responded to the report of the Inquiry Committee in his comments to the State Government, which is divided into 8 Chapters.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2013-12-06 |title=Haryana govt chargesheets Ashok Khemka for nixing Robert Vadra-DLF land deal |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/haryana-govt-chargesheets-ashok-khemka-for-nixing-robert-vadra-dlf-land-deal/articleshow/26925301.cms |access-date=2025-03-12 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> The specific land deal of Robert Vadra is detailed in the 6th Chapter.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://in.news.yahoo.com/khemka-stands-ground-over-report-against-vadra-183000076.html|title=Khemka stands his ground over report against Vadra|publisher=Yahoo with Hindustan Times News}}</ref>

[[Rao Inderjit Singh]], a member of the [[Lok Sabha]] from Gurgaon, has said that a detailed inquiry must be conducted to "substantiate or refute" the charges against Robert Vadra, whose business deals with real estate major [[DLF Limited|DLF]] have been questioned by Ashok Khemka. He said that Vadra's land dealings should be part of a larger investigation into alleged irregular practices in the government's appropriation and sale of nearly 1200 acres.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/robert-vadra-s-land-deal-must-be-probed-congress-mp-from-haryana-404602?pfrom=home-lateststories |title=Robert Vadra's land deal must be probed: Congress MP from Haryana|publisher=NDTV}}</ref>

=== Khemka′s Death Threat ===
Following his expression of apprehensions regarding the appropriation of land by Robert Vadra, (Priyanka Gandhi's spouse), Khemka claimed that he had been subjected to threats on his life. A concern was raised regarding land transactions involving Robert Vadra, the son-in-law of Congress president Sonia Gandhi.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/north/story/whistleblower-ashok-khemka-sonia-gandhi-robert-vadra-dlf-120236-2012-10-31|title=Whistleblower Ashok Khemka gets fresh death threats, FIR lodged|publisher=[[India Today]]}}</ref>

In November 2023, the Haryana Government designated TVSN Prasad, the Financial Commissioner of Revenue, to address a series of grievances lodged by Ashok Khemka concerning the conduct of another official, Sajeev Verma.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/chandigarh-news/ias-officers-at-loggerheads-haryana-orders-fact-finding-probe-into-crosscomplaints-101700680190866.html | title=IAS officers at loggerheads: Haryana orders fact-finding probe into cross-complaints | date=23 November 2023 }}</ref>

In March 2024, the Supreme Court annulled the High Court's decision regarding the elevated ACR grade awarded to Officer Ashok Khemka.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/supreme-court-sets-aside-hc-order-on-higher-acr-grade-to-ias-officer-ashok-khemka-9208717/ | title=Supreme Court sets aside HC order on higher ACR grade to IAS officer Ashok Khemka | date=12 March 2024 }}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Anil Swarup]]
* [[Rajni Sekhri Sibal]]
* [[Sanjiv Chaturvedi]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://www.twitter.com/AshokKhemka_IAS Official Twitter]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Khemka, Ashok}}
[[Category:1965 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Indian Administrative Service officers]]
[[Category:Indian government officials]]
[[Category:IIT Kharagpur alumni]]
[[Category:Tata Institute of Fundamental Research alumni]]
[[Category:Indira Gandhi National Open University alumni]]
[[Category:Panjab University alumni]]
[[Category:People from Kolkata]]

Ashok Khemka - Revision history

HarrisonHinson2 at 20:48, 4 February 2026