IAS officer Ashok Khemka in Haryana was shunted following his decision to probe the alleged land dealings between Robert Vadra and construction major DLF.
Khemka cancelled the mutation of 3.531 acres of land in Shikhopur sold by Vadra to DLF on his last day at office on Monday.
According to reports, Vadra sold 3.531 acres of land to DLF for ₹58 crore. He had earlier bought the land for only ₹7 crore.
Khemka's transfer fuelled speculations that the Haryana state administration may be practicing nepotism in order to sabotage the probe into the land dealings. Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda dismissed the reports.
While Khemka described his transfer as "demoralising and dehumanising", Hooda claimed it as the state government's duty. "Transfer is a task to be performed by the state government, a transfer is not a punishment. Secondly the matter that he (Khemka) has raised has been referred to the Chief Secretary for a probe," the Haryana chief minister said, according to First Post.
Hooda said that Khemka would face action if the allegations raised by him are found to be false.
Khemka was the Director General of Land Consolidation and Land Records-cum- Inspector-General of Registration in Haryana. His transfer came three days after he directed a probe into the controversial land deals between Vadra and DLF.
"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," Khemka said according to Press Trust Of India.
Activist-turned-politician Arvind Kejriwal, who has kept a close watch on Vadra's dealings, raised questions on the necessity of Khemka's transfer.
"Ashok Khemka transferred by Haryana Govt becoz he was probing Vadra's land deals in Haryana. We strongly criticize that," Kejriwal tweeted. "What is transfer policy for IAS officers in Haryana? Under that policy, can officer be transferred merely because he was investigating Vadra?"
