The Central Government has set up a single-member committee to investigate the candidature claims and other details of Puja Khedkar, a probationary IAS officer recently embroiled in controversy over her alleged misuse of power as a civil servant.
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions has announced that the committee, headed by an Additional Secretary-level officer, will submit its findings within two weeks. This inquiry comes in the wake of allegations surrounding Ms Khedkar’s conduct and qualifications. Ms Khedkar is a 2023-batch IAS officer of the Maharashtra cadre, who secured an All India Rank (AIR) of 841 in the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) exam, sparked a controversy recently when she used her private Audi car with a red-blue beacon light and VIP number plate.
She allegedly demanded facilities not typically available to probationary officers. A report by Pune Collector Suhas Diwse detailed Ms Khedkar’s repeated demands for special treatment, including a separate cabin, car, residential quarters, and a peon, even before officially beginning her training on June 3. These requests were denied. The IAS trainee was also accused of removing the nameplate of a senior official at the Pune collector’s office when he allowed her to use his ante-chamber as her office. The controversy led to Ms Khedkar’s transfer from Pune to Washim in central Maharashtra.
Further allegations suggest Ms. Khedkar may have submitted fake disability and Other Backward Class (OBC) certificates to clear the civil services exam. Reports also claim she provided a mental illness certificate but failed to report to AIIMS Delhi for verification when summoned in April 2022, citing a Covid infection.
Disclaimer: This press release is sourced from News On AIR, Prasar Bharti and Press Information Bureau India (PIB).
