IAS Officer Puja Khedkar Controversy: PMO Demands Report

The Pune police recently visited the residence of trainee IAS officer Puja Khedkar to examine an Audi car she reportedly used in violation of service rules. Khedkar, who ranked 821 in the UPSC exams, has been transferred from Pune to Washim district, Maharashtra amid accusations of misusing her authority.

PMO and LBSNAA Involvement

The controversy has garnered significant attention, prompting the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) to seek detailed reports on the matter. The Maharashtra government is also taking the issue seriously, indicating the potential for further investigations and actions.

Allegations Against Puja Khedkar

Khedkar, assigned as an assistant collector in Pune, is accused of using facilities not permitted for probationary officers. Reports indicate she:

-Used a red-blue beacon and a Maharashtra Government board on her private Audi car.

-Occupied the chamber of Additional Collector Ajay More without permission.

-Removed office furniture without the additional collector’s consent.

Political Influence for Transfer

Her transfer followed a letter from Pune collector Suhas Divase to the chief secretary of Maharashtra. Additionally, reports suggest her father, a retired administrative officer who recently contested the Lok Sabha elections from Ahmednagar, pressured the district collector’s office to accommodate her demands.

Questionable Appointment

RTI activist Vijay Kumbhar has questioned the legitimacy of Khedkar’s appointment, claiming she doesn’t qualify under the OBC non-creamy layer category due to her father’s assets, reportedly worth ₹40 crore. According to Kumbhar, only those with an annual parental income below ₹8 lakhs are eligible for this category.

Use of Fake OBC Certificates

An official has revealed that Khedkar allegedly submitted fake disability and OBC certificates to clear the civil services exam. She applied under the OBC and visually impaired categories and submitted a mental illness certificate. In April 2022, she was summoned to AIIMS Delhi for verification of her disability certificate but did not comply, citing a Covid infection.