New Video Shows IAS Puja Kedkar's Mother Threatening Pune Farmers With Pistol

New Delhi: Trouble mounted for 2023 batch IAS officer Puja Khedkar, who is embroiled in controversy over her UPSC selection process and allegations of enjoying undue privilege as a video has emerged showing her mother, Manorama Khedkar, allegedly threatening farmers with a pistol in an attempt to seize their land. The incident occurred in Mulshi tehsil of Pune district, Maharashtra. 

Reports indicated that Puja Khedkar's father, Dilip Khedkar, a former government officer, accumulated property worth crores during his tenure, including 25 acres of land in Mulshi tehsil. The Khedkar family is now accused of trying to expand their holdings by forcibly taking land from neighbouring farmers.

When the farmers resisted, Manorama Khedkar, accompanied by bouncers, allegedly confronted them with a pistol. Although the incident occurred two months ago, local farmers claimed their attempts to file a complaint at the local police station were thwarted due to undue pressure. 

What's In The Video?

The video clearly shows Manorama Khedkar wielding a pistol while threatening the farmers. This revelation has added fuel to the ongoing controversies surrounding IAS officer Puja Khedkar and her family, raising serious questions about abuse of power and influence.

Local farmers and activists are outraged, calling for a thorough investigation and appropriate action against those involved. As the video circulates widely, the pressure on authorities to address these allegations continues to mount.

When Khedkar's Mother Threatened Media

Yesterday, a video surfaced showing Puja Khedkar's mother, Manorama, threatening media personnel outside her Pune residence. The viral video captures Manorama standing behind the gate of her home, addressing media persons when the police arrived. She can allegedly be heard saying, "I will send everybody behind bars. Everybody step aside."

What Are The Allegations Against Puja Khedkar? 

• Fake Certificates: She is alleged to have submitted fake disability and Other Backward Class (OBC) certificates to clear the civil services exam.
• Misuse of Authority: Puja Khedkar is accused of misusing her authority.
• Unauthorized Facilities: While posted as an assistant collector in Pune, she allegedly availed facilities not permitted for probationary officers.
• Unauthorized Use of Beacon: She is accused of using a red-blue beacon and a Maharashtra government board on her private Audi car.
• Unauthorized Occupation: Khedkar reportedly occupied the chamber of additional collector Ajay More without permission and removed office furniture without consent.
• Pressure from Father: Her father, a retired administrative officer who recently ran for the Lok Sabha from Ahmednagar, is alleged to have pressured the district collector's office to meet his daughter's demands.
• Questionable Appointment: RTI activist Vijay Kumbhar has claimed that Khedkar's appointment was questionable, arguing she did not fall under the OBC non-creamy layer category due to her father's assets worth ₹40 crore.   

OBC Non-Creamy Layer Status in Question

Amidst allegations of fake disability claims, discrepancies have surfaced concerning Puja Khedkar's OBC non-creamy layer status. RTI activist Vijay Kumbhar highlighted that her father, Dilip Khedkar, reported his wealth as ₹40 crore in his election affidavit. This raises questions about Puja Khedkar’s eligibility for the OBC non-creamy layer status, typically granted to those with parents earning less than ₹8 lakh annually. Dilip Khedkar had contested the 2024 Lok Sabha elections on a Vanchit Bahujan Aaghadi ticket.

If reports are to be true, her parents also own substantial property:

• Agricultural Land: 110 acres, in violation of the Agricultural Land Ceiling Act.
• Commercial Space: 1.6 lakh square feet in shops.
• Apartments: Seven, including one in Hiranandani.
• Jewellery and Assets:
• 900 grams of gold.
• Diamonds.
• A gold watch valued at ₹17 lakh.
• Vehicles: Four cars.
• Business Stakes: Two private limited companies and one automobile firm.

Puja Khedkar herself holds property worth ₹17 crore.  

Centre Forms Panel To Look Into Row Involving Puja Khedkar

The Centre constituted a single-member Committee 'to verify the candidature' of Khedkar, amid allegations that she misused the disability and Other Backward Class quotas to secure a position in the service. In a statement, the Centre said the probe would be conducted by an additional secretary-rank officer to verify the candidature claims and other details of the 2023 batch officer, who has been allotted the Maharashtra cadre. The committee will submit its report in two weeks, the statement said.

Who is Puja Khedkar?

Pooja Khedkar hails from a family with a notable background in bureaucracy and politics, based in Pathardi tehsil, Ahmednagar district, Maharashtra. Her father, Diliprao Khedkar, is a retired Maharashtra Pollution Control Board officer who is now active in politics. Her paternal grandfather was also a senior bureaucrat. Diliprao ran for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections as a Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi candidate, and Pooja’s mother is the sarpanch of their hometown, Bhalgaon village.

Pooja completed her MBBS and made several attempts at the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) exams. She reportedly qualified for the Indian Revenue Service (IRS) in 2019 but could not join due to alleged "technical issues in her OBC allocation," as mentioned in a mock interview video. She later applied for and obtained a position as Assistant Director with the Sports Authority of India in November 2021.