IAS officer Jaibir Arya discharged in graft case after govt denies prosecution sanction

A Panchkula court has discharged IAS officer Jaibir Singh Arya in a corruption case after the Haryana Government refused to grant prosecution sanction against him. The case pertained to alleged demand and acceptance of a bribe in exchange for a favourable posting.

Rajesh Kumar of Kurukshetra had approached the Anti-Corruption Bureau (now State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau) alleging that a bribe was being sought for the posting of his wife, Rinku, then Assistant Manager (Quality Control), Haryana State Warehousing Corporation (HSWC). She had returned from childcare leave — from April 4 to September 30, 2023 — and had applied for an additional 18 months’ leave. Arya, who was then Managing Director (MD) of HSWC, had declined her request and she was informed she may be transferred to Rewari or another distant location.

According to the FIR, Sandeep Ghangas, District Manager, HSWC, Panipat, and Rinku’s batchmate, allegedly told Rajesh Kumar that she could be posted as District Manager, Kurukshetra, in return for a bribe. He allegedly claimed Arya was demanding Rs 5 lakh but that he had negotiated the amount to Rs 3 lakh, which would be routed through Rajesh Bansal, then GM, CONFED, Panchkula.

Rinku was posted as District Manager, Kurukshetra, on October 5, 2023, and joined the next day. Ganghas then allegedly directed Rajesh Kumar to hand over Rs 3 lakh to Manish Sharma at Industrial Area Phase-2, Panchkula. ACB officials said Bansal was to collect the bribe from Sharma and deliver it to Arya.

On October 11, 2023, the ACB conducted a raid during which Sharma was caught red-handed and Rs 3 lakh was recovered. Arya was arrested the same day.

On November 12, DSP Vijay Kumar informed the Panchkula court that while prosecution sanction against Ghangas had been granted earlier, the Chief Secretary’s office — via a letter dated September 30 — had declined sanction against Arya. Sanction against accused Rajesh Bansal was still pending. The ACB added that it did not intend to file a challan against Arya.

Additional District and Sessions Judge Bikramjit Aurora subsequently discharged Arya.

When contacted, Arya’s counsel, SPS Parmar, said, “Right from the beginning, we have maintained that Arya was not involved. The state government has upheld our stand.”

Arya, a 2009-batch IAS officer, is currently serving as Secretary, Haryana Human Rights Commission.