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The Print
19-06-2025
- Politics
- The Print
3 yrs after counter-FIR, Haryana cops move to close case against former IAS Ashok Khemka
A similar outcome is anticipated for the FIR against Verma—again, due to the Haryana government's refusal to allow prosecution. The FIR in question was lodged by IAS officer Sanjeev Verma against Khemka when they were locked in a tussle over an alleged corruption case. Khemka then lodged a counter-FIR against Verma. Both the FIRs were lodged on 20 April, 2022. Gurugram: Three years after an FIR was registered against now-retired IAS officer Ashok Khemka, Panchkula police have initiated the process for its cancellation, a month after Haryana government declined to grant ex-post facto approval for the same. 'The government's sanction is necessary to prosecute a public officer, but it has not been received in either of the two cases,' Rupesh Chaudhary, station house office (SHO) of Panchkula's Sector 5 police station confirmed to ThePrint. Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, the competent authority, has reportedly approved the denial of the sanctions. Known for his frequent transfers and whistle-blower stance, Khemka, a 1991-batch IAS officer, retired as additional chief secretary (transport) in April. Verma, a 2004-batch IAS officer, is currently director-general of the Haryana sports department, as well as the commissioner, Ambala division. Also Read: Punishment postings for civil servants have changed over time, but stigma remains the same How tussle unfolded The long-standing dispute between Verma and Khemka stems over recruitments at the Haryana State Warehousing Corporation (HSWC). Verma, on joining as managing director (MD) of the HSWC in April 2022, recommended a criminal case for alleged irregularities in the HSWC appointments made during Khemka's tenure more than a decade earlier. Based on the complaint of Ravinder Kumar, the police filed FIR No. 170 against Khemka and three other former HSWC officials under Section 420 of the erstwhile Indian Penal Code (IPC) about cheating and sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA). Later, Khemka, accompanied by the then home minister of Haryana, Anil Vij, met senior police officers in Panchkula. Subsequently, FIR No. 171 was registered on Khemka's complaint against Verma and Kumar for allegedly tampering with records and hatching a conspiracy with 'revenge and corrupt motive'. Additionally, Khemka accused Verma of leaking official documents to journalists and alleged 'material distortions and concealment' in the police complaint filed against him. Verma, however, denied the allegations. Refusal of sanction for prosecution Sanction for prosecution is a critical factor in cases registered under the Prevention of Corruption (Amended) Act, 2018. Section 17A mandates prior approval for any inquiry or investigation into offences committed by a public servant in discharge of official functions. Khemka had moved the Punjab & Haryana High Court to quash the FIR registered against him. The FIR, his lawyer contended, was 'legally null and void' as it was registered without the prior approval under Section 17A of the PCA. The Haryana government informed the court that it had not granted sanction to any FIR under Section 17A, leading to the disposal of the case against the retired IAS officer on 29 November, 2022. The court also told Khemka that a 10-day notice was required if further proceedings were initiated against him. Separately, the HC restrained the police from filing a challan in FIR No. 171 against Verma—without its permission—on 6 July 2022, with the matter still pending. Meanwhile, Verma expressed concerns about the addition of the PCA sections in FIR No. 171 and called for the handover of both the FIRs to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), citing perceived pressure on the police. With the cancellation of the FIR against Khemka and the strong likelihood of the same happening in Verma's case due to the lack of a government sanction, this high-profile bureaucratic saga appears to be drawing to its close without any formal prosecution (Edited by Viny Mishra) Also Read: SC upholds Khattar's downgrading of IAS Khemka's performance evaluation, says it's executive's domain
Hindustan Times
02-06-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Panchkula: 2 partners of Luxmi Rice Industries booked for paddy milling fraud
Partners of M/s Luxmi Rice Industries, Barwala, have been booked for allegedly cheating the Haryana State Warehousing Corporation (HSWC) by failing to deliver the full quantity of rice due under a government milling agreement during the Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2023-24. The case was registered after the company defaulted on delivering a significant portion of Custom Milled Rice (CMR) to the Food Corporation of India (FCI) despite receiving over 2175.3375 metric tons of paddy. The manager of HSWC, Ambala, on March 12, lodged the complaint against rice mill partners — Deepak Kumar Gupta and Kailash Rani — accusing the firm of violating the terms of an agreement signed on October 15, 2023, between now-retired HSWC official Somnath and Deepak Kumar Gupta. As per the agreement, the mill was required to return 67.5% of the paddy received in the form of CMR. However, by the delivery deadline of September 30, 2024, the firm had delivered only 1363.00 metric tons of CMR, against the required 1472.0509 metric tons, resulting in a shortfall of 109.0509 metric tons of CMR. The HSWC has calculated that approximately ₹3,051,990 lakh is recoverable from the rice mill, after adjusting penalties and dues as of March 6, 2025. Following the complaint, police have registered a case under Sections 406 (criminal breach of trust) and 420 (cheating) of the Indian Penal Code against partners Deepak Kumar Gupta and Kailash Rani. Despite multiple notices and reminders, neither the millers nor the guarantors—Rakesh Gupta of RR Agro Foods and Yashana Dhingra of Shree Krishna Rice Mill—have responded. The HSWC has also withheld payments due to Rakesh Gupta, who is a current miller under the same procurement season.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
King the Chiweenie shows off pearly whites, seeks furever home
WICHITA COUNTY (KFDX/KJTL) — One sweet Chiweenie from the Humane Society of Wichita County visited the studio and hopes to find his forever home. Meet King! This sweet boy is only around 4 years old and has so much love to offer. He loves showing off his pearly whites as he softly chomps at everything that comes his way; think of it as a greeting. King also loves to play with any soft toy and he loves to cuddle too! He would do great with other dogs, cats and older children. If you are interested in King or any of his other friends at the HSWC, contact them at (940) 855-4941. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Humane Society of Wichita County housing animals due to flooding
WICHITA COUNTY (KFDX/KJTL) — The Humane Society of Wichita County is offering help to those needing help with their animals due to flooding. According to a Facebook post made by the HSWC, those needing animal emergency onboarding due to flooding, are offering housing to animals at no charge. For more information, call them at (940) 855-4941. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hindustan Times
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Graft cases against IAS officers: Haryana declines to grant approval to FIRs against Ashok Khemka, IAS colleague
The Haryana government has declined to accord ex-post facto (retrospective) approval to a first information report (FIR) registered in 2022 under the Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act against former IAS officer, Ashok Khemka in 2022 at Panchkula. This means that the police after a period of three years will seek the cancellation of the FIR against the former IAS officer in a court of law. The decision comes as a major relief for Khemka who retired from service on April 30. Khemka, a now retired 1991 batch IAS officer, was booked in April 2022 by the police for allegedly making appointments in an illegal and arbitrary manner during his stint as managing director of Haryana State Warehousing Corporation (HSWC). The state government has also declined to grant ex post facto approval to another April 2022 FIR registered under PC Act on a cross complaint by Khemka against his IAS colleague, Sanjeev Verma who headed the Haryana State Warehousing Corporation (HSWC) when the PC Act case was registered against Khemka. Chief minister, Nayab Saini on May 1 ordered that the plea of the police to grant ex-post facto approval for the PC Act FIRs be refused as it was not in tune with the amended anti-graft law. Officials said that as per Section 17-A of the PC Act, prior approval of the state government is required for registering an FIR for any offence alleged to have been committed by a public servant under the act pertaining to the decisions taken in discharge of official duties. This has been held by the Supreme Court in its November 14, 2019, judgment in Yashwant Sinha versus CBI. The May 1 decision is in consonance with August 18, 2022, communication by the then chief secretary to the director general of police who had asked the police to take further action accordingly. Hindustan Times was the first to report on April 29, 2022, that the FIR against the erstwhile civil servant was not sustainable in the eyes of law as it was registered in contravention of Section 17-A of PC Act. This state government's decision to decline ex post approval to FIRs was also supported by a legal opinion of 2019 tendered by the then Haryana advocate general. Officials said that the AG's opinion said that Section 17-A cast a duty on the police officer to obtain approval from the competent authority before conducting an investigation against any public servant for the offences relatable to the discharge of his official functions or duties. Chapter 12 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) mandates that the investigation can only be conducted by the police officer after the registration of FIR. So before registering a case under provisions of PC Act against a public servant, prior approval from the competent authority is mandatory, the top law officer had held. The Haryana Police had booked Khemka on April 26, 2022, under the provisions of Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act for allegedly making appointments in an illegal and arbitrary manner during his stint as managing director of Haryana State Warehousing Corporation (HSWC). Besides Khemka, a former HSWC manager Som Nath, former assistant manager SC Kansal, and former assistant Naresh Kumar were also booked on under Section 420 of the IPC for cheating and Section 13 of the Prevention of Corruption Act (criminal misconduct by a public servant). Khemka's colleague, Sanjeev Verma was booked the same day (April 26, 2022) under IPC provisions for allegedly framing an incorrect document with intent to cause injury, false information with intent to cause public servant to use his lawful power to the injury of another person, threatening any person to give false evidence, criminal conspiracy following a cross complaint by Khemka and on the intervention of the then home minister, Anil Vij. The police later added Section 13 of the PC Act (criminal misconduct by a public servant) in the FIR against Verma.
