The Centre on Thursday formed a one-member panel to look into the controversy involving the probationary IAS officer, Puja Khedkar. An additional secretary in the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) will enquire into the matter. New Delhi: The private Audi car of probationary IAS officer Puja Khedkar in which she used a red and blue beacon and a VIP number plate has unpaid challans of Rs 26,000.
The trainee IAS officer, 31, has found herself embroiled in a controversy over a series of serious allegations, including misusing benefits under the physical disabilities category and Other Backward Class (OBC) quota to get a position in the civil service. According to reports, the luxury car belonging to the IAS officer has been issued 21 challans for traffic rule violations previously. The challans, pending since 2022, have been issued for violations like over-speeding, signal jump and refusal to stop when asked by the police.
Puja Khedkar under fire over ‘misuse of power’ Khedkar, a 2023-batch IAS officer of Maharashtra cadre, has been accused of misusing benefits under the physical disabilities category and OBC quota to secure a position in the Indian Administrative Service. She was on Monday transferred to Washim from Pune over allegations of bullying and entitled behaviour. She had allegedly asked for a separate cabin, an accommodation and a car from the Pune district collector even before joining as assistant collector.
On Thursday, she took charge as assistant collector at the Washim District Collectorate in Vidarbha region. The probationary IAS officer allegedly submitted fake disability and OBC certificates to clear the civil services exam. She appeared for the civil services exam under the OBC and visually impaired categories and also submitted a mental illness certificate.
Khedkar was asked to report at the AIIMS, Delhi for verification of her disability certificate but she did not turn up, citing COVID-19 infection, an official alleged. Speaking to reporters over the serious allegations, she said, “I’m not authorised to speak anything right now. So I’m not going to comment.
” Panel formed to probe charges against IAS officer Meanwhile, the Centre on Thursday formed a one-member panel to look into the controversy involving the probationary IAS officer. An additional secretary in the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) will enquire into the matter..
