Who is Puja Khedkar? The Controversial IAS Probationer Whose Training has Been Put on Hold
Puja Khedkar, a trainee IAS officer, is under the scanner over alleged misuse of privileges and power. This is the first major measure against the probationer who sparked controversy for alleged manipulation of disability and OBC certificates for getting into the civil services. She has been called back to the training academy for “further necessary action”. Puja stirred up a storm over her alleged demands for a separate cabin and staff in Pune, leading to her transfer to Washim district from Pune, where she was originally posted. Further allegations emerged and she was accused of securing her IAS position using the OBC quota, claiming an income below Rs 8 lakh, and submitting a mental illness certificate.
Puja Khedkar, a 2023-batch IAS officer, secured admission to Pune’s Kashibai Navale Medical College in 2007 under the OBC Nomadic Tribe-3 category, reserved for the Vanjari community. She scored 146/200 in the entrance exam, surpassing the CET requirement. She was also accused of misusing her power and demanding facilities not typically provided to probationary officers – she demanded a separate cabin, official residence, vehicle, and support staff before taking charge as the Assistant Collector in Pune. According to Puja Khedkar, she did not report to AIIMS Delhi in April 2022 to verify her disability certificate, citing Covid infection.
How the Controversy Unfolded
It all began after a Pune Collector Dr Suhas Diwase reported her demands for special privileges such as a separate cabin, car, residential quarters, and peon, despite being on probation.
The 34-year-old allegedly demanded an unauthorised use of a red beacon on a private Audi. Her father, Dilip Khedkar, a former Maharashtra government employee and Lok Sabha election candidate who declared Rs 40 crore in assets, insisted she belongs to the non-creamy layer, emphasising income over property value. He also stated she had permission to use a private luxury car with a VIP number plate and red-blue beacon during her tenure in Pune. He questioned if asking for a space to sit was wrong and asserted that she had not done anything wrong.
On Thursday, the Centre formed a single-member committee to re-examine the documents Puja Khedkar submitted to secure her candidature for the civil services examination and subsequent selection. Her father declined to comment on whether she applied under the creamy or non-creamy layer category, citing ongoing legal proceedings. He maintained that everything was done according to the rules and expressed confidence in presenting their case to the committee.
Adding to the controversy, a viral video surfaced showing Puja Khedkar’s mother Manorama Khedkar threatening men with a gun during an argument with neighbours, accompanied by security guards. The two-minute video captures her waving a pistol in a man’s face before concealing it. Pune’s rural police have launched a probe to verify if she had a firearm license. Manorama Khedkar, sarpanch of Bhalgaon village, was caught on video threatening people with a gun over a land dispute, leading to a case being filed against her. Additionally, the Pune civic body issued a notice to Manorama Khedkar to remove unauthorised structures near their bungalow’s boundary wall within a week.
Dilip Khedkar defended his wife Manorama, arguing that the media is showing only one side of the story and stating that a local had aggressively approached Manorama with a stick the day before. He emphasised that she has a license to carry the gun for self-defence.
Puja Khedkar’s parents, amidst controversy and legal issues including an FIR for allegedly threatening a farmer with a gun, are currently evading authorities. Pune Rural SP Pankaj Deshmukh confirmed that the accused are unreachable as they have switched off their phones and their whereabouts are unknown. Law enforcement teams are actively searching Pune and nearby areas where they have properties to locate and question them.
The Truth Behind her Disability Certificate
Puja Khedkar, a 2023-batch IAS officer from Ahmednagar, has faced severe criticism after allegations surfaced that she falsified her mental and visual impairments to secure an officer’s post, despite scoring poorly in the competitive exam. Reports indicate she submitted fraudulent certificates from the District Civil Hospital in Ahmednagar to support her claims. During the selection process, she reportedly refused to undergo mandatory medical tests to verify her disabilities multiple times, citing reasons like COVID-19 and skipping critical examinations. Despite these controversies, she was appointed as Assistant Collector for Pune district, where she allegedly sought unauthorised privileges such as a siren, beacon for her private Audi, and a ‘Government of Maharashtra’ sticker, actions prohibited for probationary officers.
Her father has defended her, stating that she suffers from more than 40 per cent visual impairment, which is also a kind of disability. He has also claimed that Puja has “a certain category of mental illness which was also checked by medical professionals before the disability certificate was issued”.
