IAS Officer Puja Khedkar to be Terminated if Found Guilty | What We Know So Far

New Delhi: Probationary IAS officer Puja Khedkar, who is embroiled in a controversy over alleged misuse of power and privileges, may face termination from service if found guilty, according to official sources. A single-member committee constituted by the Centre will re-examine all documents presented by Khedkar to secure her candidature in the civil services examination and her subsequent selection. 

"The officer may be terminated from the service if found guilty. She may also face criminal charges if it is found that she misrepresented facts or manipulated documents relied upon for her selection," a source said.

Khedkar, a 2023 batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, is currently under probation and posted in her home cadre of Maharashtra. The 34-year-old officer is at the centre of a storm for allegedly misusing the disability and Other Backward Class (OBC) quota to secure her position in the IAS. The single-member probe committee of Manoj Kumar Dwivedi, Additional Secretary in the Department of Personnel and Training, has been asked to submit its report within two weeks, the sources said.

What Did Puja Khedkar Say on The Allegations

Ob being asked by reporters about the allegations, Khedkar said, "I am not authorised to say anything. I will give my submissions to the committee. I will follow all the procedures.”  When asked about the panel formed by the central government the trainee IAS officer said, “I will answer everything to the committee. I will cooperate with the investigation.”

What Are The Allegations Against Puja Khedkar? 

Probationary IAS officer Puja Khedkar is facing serious allegations, including the submission of fake disability and Other Backward Class (OBC) certificates to clear the civil services exam. She is also accused of misusing her authority and availing facilities not permitted for probationary officers while posted as an assistant collector in Pune. Additionally, Khedkar allegedly used a red-blue beacon and a Maharashtra government board on her private Audi car, actions unauthorized for someone in her position. Reports also suggest she occupied the chamber of additional collector Ajay More without permission and removed office furniture without consent.

Further complicating her situation, Khedkar's father, a retired administrative officer who recently ran for the Lok Sabha from Ahmednagar, is accused of pressuring the district collector's office to meet his daughter's demands. RTI activist Vijay Kumbhar has raised questions about Khedkar's appointment, claiming she does not qualify for the OBC non-creamy layer category due to her father's assets worth ₹40 crore.

21 Pending Challans Worth Rs 26,000

According to Additional Commissioner of Police (East Region) Manoj Patil, Khedkar's private Audi car, fitted with a red and blue beacon light and the ‘Maharashtra Govt’ insignia, has 21 traffic challans, amounting to Rs 26,000 for violations such as speeding, signal jumping, and refusal to stop when directed by police, have been pending since 2022.

"The traffic police have issued an additional challan with a fine of Rs 500 for the use of an amber beacon light and 'Maharashtra Govt' plate on the car," said ACP Manoj Patil. The car, registered to Thermoverita Engineering Private Limited, was registered on January 27, 2012, according to the Pune Regional Transport Office (RTO).