The Haryana government has declined to grant permission to prosecute 2001-batch IAS officer Vijay Dahiya in a corruption case in which he was arrested by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in 2023. The decision brings relief to the senior officer, as the refusal of sanction means that the investigating agency cannot file a chargesheet or begin trial proceedings against him in court.
The state government took this decision after concluding that the ACB investigation failed to prove any exchange of bribe money involving Dahiya. The development comes even as Dahiya was promoted to the post of Principal Secretary in the higher administrative grade on January 1, 2026, along with other officers of his batch.
Why the Government Denied Prosecution Sanction
According to officials, the ACB had completed its investigation and first sought prosecution sanction in July 2024, followed by reminders in January and August 2025. After examining the case records, the government observed that no direct evidence was found to show that Dahiya had received or demanded any bribe from the complainant or the other accused.
The government also pointed out a procedural lapse by the ACB. It noted that the agency had not taken prior approval under Section 17-A of the Prevention of Corruption Act before registering the FIR against the IAS officer—a mandatory requirement when allegations relate to official decisions taken in the course of duty.
Background of the Case
The case was registered on April 20, 2023, based on a complaint by Rinku Manchanda, a Fatehabad-based educationist who ran a technical training institute under the Haryana Skill Development Mission. Manchanda alleged that payments of around ₹50 lakh were pending and that Deepak Sharma, then Chief Skills Officer, demanded a bribe of ₹5 lakh to clear the dues.
As per the FIR, Sharma allegedly directed Manchanda to Poonam Chopra, a Delhi-based woman who claimed she could influence Dahiya. Manchanda later paid ₹2 lakh to Chopra, after which the ACB laid a trap and arrested her. Dahiya was arrested on October 10, 2023, spent 49 days in jail, and was later released on bail.
