Recent Developments in IAS Officer Puja Khedkar’s Case: A Recap of Allegations and Controversies

Who is Puja Khedkar?

A 32-year-old trained doctor from Pune, Puja Khedkar is a probationary Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer from the 2023 batch of Maharashtra Cadre. Her father Deelip Khedkar is a retired IAS officer turned politician. Puja has recently been involved in a series of controversies and allegations, raising concerns over integrity for her entry into the civil services.

Allegations of Misconduct and Fraud

Puja has been accused of multiple forms of misconduct. Suhas Diwase, Collector Pune recently reported that Puja misused her power and position by using a private car with a beacon light and was making unreasonable demands such as office space, an official vehicle and staff, such privileges typically not allowed or granted to trainee officers. This chaos led to her transfer from Pune to the Washim district.

Also questions have been raised about the authenticity of her disability and other Backward Class (OBC) certificates, which she used to appear for UPSC and secure this position. Concerns about her father Deelip Khedkar’s financial revelation, which clearly exceed the limits for the OBC creamy layer category, further exacerbated her situation. Allegations of property falsification and misuse of government resources have also came to limelight.

Latest Developments

In her recent statement, Puja condemned the media trial, stating, “The media trial proving me guilty is wrong. Our Indian constitution is based on the fact innocent until proven guilty.” She accented her willingness to testify before an expert committee and accept its decision.

Misconduct and Misuse of Power

Puja Khedkar secured a posting in her hometown Pune as an Assistant Collector. Before taking charge on June 3, 2024, she allegedly made repeated calls to the office of the Collector, demanding a separate office, residential quarters, an official car, and staff. Upon joining, she reportedly occupied the office of Pune Additional Collector Ajay More while he was away on duty, removing his nameplate and rearranging the furniture. Additionally, she used her private luxury car with a red-blue beacon light, a VIP number plate, and a ‘Government of Maharashtra’ sticker during her probation.

Allegations Against Khedkar Family

Further adding more to the chaos, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) issues a notice of illegal encroachment at Khedkar’s residence. Her parents Manorama and Dilip Khedkar are also on a run from police after being accused of threatening a farmer with a gun. The accusations trigger from a viral video in which Manorama Khedkar is seen with a gun and threatening villagers. This incident has led to various charges under the Indian Penal Code and the Arms Act.

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Moving Forward

A single-member committee has been constituted by the Centre to verify Khedkar’s candidature and the documents she submitted. Officials have indicated that if found guilty, she may face termination from service and possible criminal charges.

As the investigation is going on, Khedkar remains in Washim district, maintaining the claim of her innocence and looking forward to presenting her case to the committee. People are calling Puja a lid opener for a tank full of worms as they believe she is not the only fraudster in the sea of UPSC scam, the more you dive deeper, the more filth you see.

The outcome of this high-profile and much talked about case will undoubtedly have life changing implications for her career and the integrity of the civil services examination process.