In a new development involving probationary IAS officer Puja Khedkar, the Central government has formed a one-member panel to investigate allegations regarding her UPSC exam candidature. Khedkar is accused of improperly benefiting from disability and Other Backward Class quotas during the exam. The panel is expected to submit its report within two weeks.
“The Central Government has constituted a single-member Committee, chaired by a senior officer of the rank of Additional Secretary to the Government of India, to verify the candidature claims and other details of Ms. Puja Manorma Dilip Khedkar, a candidate of the Civil Services Examination-2022 and earlier CSEs. The Committee will submit its report in 2 weeks,” the government’s statement reads.
On Thursday, Puja Khedkar, 34, began her new role as assistant collector at the Washim District Collectorate following a transfer from Pune. She is accused of violating service rules by placing a red beacon and the label ‘Maharashtra government’ on her private Audi car. However, she arrived in a Bolero car and declined to comment on the controversy, citing service rules.
“I am not authorized to speak on the issue. Government rules don’t allow me to speak on this,” she said.
Meanwhile, police visited her residence to investigate the alleged misuse of the red beacon light and VIP number on her Audi car.
Puja Khedkar, a 2023-batch IAS officer of the Maharashtra cadre, secured an All India Rank (AIR) of 841 in the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) exam.
According to a report by Pune collector Suhas Diwse to the General Administration Department, Khedkar demanded a separate cabin, car, residential quarters, and a peon before even joining duty as a trainee on June 3. She allegedly removed a senior official’s nameplate at the Pune collector’s office to use his ante-chamber as her office.
Additionally, Khedkar is accused of submitting fake disability and Other Backward Class (OBC) certificates to clear the 2022 civil services exam and of presenting a fake mental illness certificate.
