Scam-tainted officers gunning for Dr Ashok Khemka?
Moneylife Digital Team 11 February 2014

In a letter to the Principal Auditor General of Haryana, Dr Ashok Khemka, under attack for his pathbreaking effort to introduce better quality of roofing in food storage godowns, has openly identified two tainted senior officers as gunning for him because of personal reasons

In response to Haryana government’s move to charge Dr Ashok Khemka with various irregularities in connection with his path breaking decision to introduce better quality roofing for warehouses, Dr Khemka has sent a strongly worded point-by-point rebuttal to Principal Accountant General (Audit) of Haryana, while alleging bias on the part of two tainted state government functionaries for cancelling a dubious land deal of Robert Vadra, Sonia Gandhi’s son-in-law, in October 2012.

 

The letter, written in the third week of January alleges that “the motive of the ruling political executive is to malign my reputation in the public eye for daring to annul the mutation of a land deal of Skylight Hospitality, a company of Mr Robert Vadra, on 15 October 2012.”

 

Dr Khemka alleges that “Mr SS Dhillon and Mr Roshan Lal are acting in a criminal and vindictive manner in collusion with the ruling political executive to frame me.”

 

SS Dhillon is Principal Secretary to Chief Minister while Roshan Lal is the Principal Secretary Agriculture. Both of them have a checkered record, compared to Dr Khemka’s unblemished record to exemplary public service.

 

Dr Khemka is an engineering graduate from IIT Delhi and PhD in Computer Science from the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, who chose to join the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) in 1991 to serve the country.

 

He has had repeated run-ins with the four chief ministers of the Haryana government ever since he joined the IAS, for which has been transferred 44 times. But it is his cancellation of the Vadra land deal that has got the political establishment to hit at him beyond just transfers. He is now sought to be framed to change the roofing in food storage godowns from harmful asbestos sheets to better quality roofing sheets called galvalume, in the interests of the workers, when he was the managing director of Haryana State Warehousing Corporation (HSWC) in 2009. This was a pathbreaking decision because the Food Corporation of India (FCI) has subsequently made galvalume sheets mandatory.

 

In his letter to the AG (Haryana), Dr Khemka alleges that Roshan Lal is trying to retaliate against him because he had filed a complaint with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on 4 March, 2013 on discovery of a scam involving purchase of 99,996 quintals of wheat seeds at high rates without open and competitive tenders from a private middleman in November 2010. On 3 December 2013 Dr Khemka made a detailed representation to the Chairman of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Agriculture, reporting the modus operandi adopted in Haryana to misappropriate central subsidies of the Agriculture Ministry. An enquiry by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Agriculture is reportedly underway.

 

Dr Khemka has also identified the current Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, as participating in the witch-hunt against him because he had exposed Dhillon’s role in “several land-licensing and land-release scams while he (Dhillon) was posted as Director General of Town & Country Planning and Urban Estates Departments.” Dhillon’s role in licensing and release of state land in favour of a private builder was severely indicted in a judgment of 20 December 2013 of the Punjab & Haryana High Court.

 

Our emails sent to SS Dhillon and Roshan Lal remained unanswered till writing this report.

 

While the AG, supposedly an independent and constitutional authority, has been drafted in to probe Dr Khemka’s decisions, no records are being made available him for inspection despite written requests. The state government is apparently asking for a parallel enquiry by the CBI based on the same set of allegations without waiting for the final audit report of AG.
 

According to Dr Khemka’s letter to AG, “this shows utter lack of faith on the part of functionaries in the State Government in the special audit being conducted by a Constitutional authority.”

 

In a report, the Hindustan Times has said that the Haryana government has decided to defer the reference for a CBI probe into the allotment of Rs18.04 crore work orders for installing galvalume roofing sheets on warehouses by Dr Khemka.

 

You may also want to read…

Dr Ashok Khemka: The ‘unsung’ hero

 

Comments
uttamkumar dubey
1 decade ago
Who is Right? has this yudhbir khylia really worked against Khemka?
Pls clarify i will withdraw my support from AAP immediately .I support khemka and those associated with him in right context.
Bala
1 decade ago
Honore de Balzac (1799-1850) a French novelist:
"Bureaucracy is a giant mechanism operated by pygmies;
bureaucracy was definitely organised, however, under a constitutional government, with a natural kindness for mediocrity, a predilection for categorical statements and reports, a government as fussy and meddlesome as a small shopkeeper's wife!"
Arupkumar Das
1 decade ago
Sack the principal secretary and secretary Agriclture of Haryana for troubling an honest officer Dr. Khemka. CBI should investigate them for disproprsionate assets charge against them.
jaideep shirali
1 decade ago
As a nation, we only talk about corruption, whether Dr Khemka or the AAP. But inspite of what we saw in Parliament and the Delhi assembly, we support the old, corrupt and useless parties, with stupid excuses like stability. Inspite of the numerous scams surrounding UPA, we have any number of 'experts' who still speak highly of it. In all the media glee against the AAP, neither the journalists nor the viewers have stopped to think that the fight is about corruption and how it is destroying the nation. Khemka and AAP are just part of the fight against corruption, we citizens need to help them. We need to think about why we should have Pay Commissions and pay hikes, when government offices to most citizens symbolize corruption and red tape, inspite of automation. I sincerely hope we do not, as usual, forget Khemka and call him an 'anarchist' sooner or later !
CHANDU CHARTIST
1 decade ago
DR,KHEMKA MUST JOIN AAP AND FIGHT AGAIENST CORRUPTION
Dayananda Kamath k
Replied to CHANDU CHARTIST comment 1 decade ago
if he joins aap his fight also will be like kejriwals. as soon as he got power he bribed his voters. and helped the same power companie by subsidy. and all these decisions taken to garner majority as he was not sure of winning the vote of confidense and continuing in govt. so he ranaway which he wanted on flimsy grounds. if people of india are sensible they should use jadoo on every aap member.
nagesh kini
Replied to CHANDU CHARTIST comment 1 decade ago
Oh No. AAP is the last place.
The aam janaata had high expectations from AK and his AAP that have been belied and betrayed. In their quest to 'do something big' for their parliamentary 'conquest' they threw unto the winds their avowed fight for corruption by resorting to cheap populist antics like lalbatti gaddis, waiver and concessions in power charges and free water. The Rail Bhavan Dharna and getting to RIL did them in.
In the short time where will they get 'good incorruptible' candidates pan-India? Not the 'kalipeeli wala' so-called Kumar Viswas on the judicial strictured Law Minister Somnath Bharati!
The fartherest Dr. Khemka keeps away from AAP. Capt. Gopinath and Mallika Sarabhai must be rueing joining hands with it.
Abhijit Gosavi
Replied to nagesh kini comment 1 decade ago
My friend, I'm not sure which generation you belong to, but I am old enough to remember all those opportunists who were supporting VP Singh's Lok Dal party. Don't be surprised if MallikaS performs a Kathak dance and Captain Gopinath hosts a shaandar party in the honour of the honourable ex-CM! They are not ruing their decision at all.
nagesh kini
Replied to Abhijit Gosavi comment 1 decade ago
Abhijit - perhaps i belong to the generation as you do!
Suggest everbody's reads "All the Janata Men" (1978 Vikas) written by veteran Janardan Thakur that goes back even before VP Singh. The author in his first coalition era saga has written a chapter each on the opportunists ranging from Jagjivan, Morarji, Atal Bihari, Advani et all. None of them were Kathak dancers but hard core netagan!
Abhijit Gosavi
Replied to nagesh kini comment 1 decade ago
Nagesh, MallikaS wants to see Modi out of power. She may do free performances (and she is a very fine danseuse, I mean no disrespect to her or her profession) to raise money for AK. Isn't that game plan clear ... now that AK has resigned?

Maybe you are actually older than me because I know v. little of Jagjivan Ram/Morarji. But Vajpayee and Advani are NOT opportunists. In 1977, JP advised all the opposition to unite --- not for any opportunistic goals, but to save democracy!

Mr. Khemka, I've no doubt, has seen through AAP's opportunism, and has moreover made it clear he's not joining politics now.
Abhijit Gosavi
Replied to Abhijit Gosavi comment 1 decade ago
I don't mean to offend you, Nagesh :) but something you said about Mr. Vajpayee and opportunism needs further response. I have myself seen Mr. Vajpayee give a speech at Deshapriya Park of Kolkata in 1984. It was that sympathy-wave election, and believe it or not, there were no more than a dozen people at that meeting!

I was in the 9th grade, and happened to be there by chance (the park is a few feet from the house I grew up in)! I was amazed to see it was Mr. Vajpayee himself and stood there for a few minutes time listening to him (My mom had sent me on an errand, and didn't have much time :))!

His speech was full of jokes, as usual, and he knew he was going to lose that election, but he toiled hard! That is not a sign of an opportunist. Anything but ...
nagesh kini
Replied to Abhijit Gosavi comment 1 decade ago
No offence taken.
Once you read "All the Janata Men" you'll come to accept that all our netagan have feet of clay.Even I've heard Atalji at the height of his glory here in Mumbai. After all human tendencies are here to stay, they don't change.
Shivangni Sharma
1 decade ago
This shows the pitfalls of having too many regulators, unscrupulous politicians will "fix" even Lokpal, CBI, with their own cronies. It very important to encourage and stand by such honest people cause they and a few other similarly honest & fearless people carry the load of governance on their shoulders
ABHA CHAWLA MOHANTY
1 decade ago
"AUDIT" AND DEPARTMENTS FOR VIGILANCE PROVE AS VANGUARDS FOR ADMINISTRATIVE DISCIPLINE???,..TRUTH IS DEFEATED TO EVIL TRIUMPHANT..TESTIMONIAL TO PERFORATED PERFUSED CORRUPT MENTALITY,..WE as nation ambassadors of tolerance......shame!
nagesh kini
Replied to ABHA CHAWLA MOHANTY comment 1 decade ago
Putting CAG to 'audit' on Dr. Khemka is the greatest blunder. For all you know it will throw open a bigger can of worms!
t k mitra
1 decade ago
Dr.Khemka is a lion in the jungle of cowards.Scam tainted people will find no other way than to hide in the bushes to-day or tomorrow.His concern for preventing wastage of food grains from govt.godowns and promoting use of galvalume which later on adopted by FCI is commendable.
Sunil
1 decade ago
Dr. Khemka is a fine example of what people in high places ought to do. Congratulations to the Moneylife team in supporting Dr. Khemka . Look forward to be a part of any other initiate that you want to drive towards supporting a Honest and upright officer in doing his duty.
SuchindranathAiyerS
1 decade ago
So, what's new? If you are not a partner in crime, you will be "fixed". I should know. Been there. Been fixed. Many times:
Harish Kohli
1 decade ago
The corrupt politicians are too thick skinned for anything to affect them. Dr. Khemka and people like him must not be left alone to wage their battle for probity in governance. One can imagine their courage in doggedly pursuing, despite the consequences to their personal lives, the flicker at the end of the long, long, long tunnel. Full credit to Moneylife in pursuing Dr. Khemka's case. Having followed Sucheta Dalal's writings for quite some time, she is not the one to give up.
nagesh kini
1 decade ago
The Office of the CAG needs to ascertain as to how one of its arms at Harayana, in abdicating its duties as an indepedent constitutional audit authority is succumbing to the ditaks of a partisan and vindictive state government that is out to settle personal scores. Now that the matters are subjudice and before a Parliamentary Committee the CAG needs to direct the AG Harayana to cease from any action on the pain of contempt of court and parliament.
P M Ravindran
1 decade ago
I would easily say that Dr Khemeka is a rare breed that we all need to protect and nurture. To do the right thing one needs not only competence but also courage. Most of those in the IAS can be dumped as useless clerks, in fact worse than the LDCs and UDCs in govt offices.
Abhijit Gosavi
Replied to P M Ravindran comment 1 decade ago
Indeed, people like him need support from everywhere! He's fighting a lonely battle for ethics; he's not trying to line his own pocket. Such a humble man too!

The video is out there on the internet for everyone to see. But you won't hear any calls on twitter from these so-called "leftists"; no changed DPs nor any profile images --- unlike those for the caravan magazine.

But if I whine about how I may lose my fat pay check, I can depend on dear wolf-boy to support me on papyrus :)
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