Ashok Khemka retires: Flagged Vadra land deal, IAS career marked by 57 transfers - 'Prize of honesty is ...'

Ashok Khemka

Senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Ashok Khemka, widely called as one of the most upright and outspoken bureaucrats in the country, is retiring on April 30 after a 34-year-long career, which saw 57 postings. The 1991-batch Haryana cadre officer will retire as the Additional Chief Secretary of the Transport Department, a role he assumed in December 2024. Notably, his retirement also falls on his 60th birthday.

Born in Kolkata on April 30, 1965, Khemka holds a BTech in Computer Science from IIT Kharagpur, a PhD from the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, and an MBA in Finance. During his service, he also pursued an LLB from Punjab University. Despite his clean track record, Khemka faced 57 transfers, likely the most by any bureaucrat in Haryana.

Khemka rose to national prominence in 2012 when, as Director General of Consolidation of Holdings, he cancelled the mutation of a controversial land deal between Robert Vadra’s company, Skylight Hospitality, and real estate giant DLF. Though the mutation of 3.53 acres was annulled on October 15, 2012, a Hindustan Times report later noted that the Gurugram revenue administration never enforced the order. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) continues to investigate the matter, with Vadra recently questioned over the 2007–08 transaction.

Known for his strong anti-corruption stance, Khemka served under seven different chief ministers, including Om Prakash Chautala, Bhajan Lal, Bansi Lal, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Manohar Lal Khattar, and the current CM, Nayab Singh Saini. Despite being repeatedly posted to relatively low-profile departments, he continued flagging irregularities and speaking out against maladministration.

In a 2019 social media post after his 53rd transfer, Khemka said, “The prize of honesty is humiliation.” In 2023, Khemka even offered to serve in the state vigilance department to help combat corruption, claiming he had sacrificed his entire career in the pursuit of public interest.