ias officer dr pooja khedkar: Pune Trainee IAS Transfers ‘VIP Requests’ Using Beacon in Private Car
After requesting special rights from the District Collector’s office that were not granted to probation officers, Puja Khedkar intentionally created a controversy.
In a nutshell,
- Puja Khedkar moved to Washim as an Assistant Collector.
- used a red-blue beacon light on her personal Audi
- She also usurped the ante-chamber of additional collector Ajay More
After receiving allegations of alleged power abuse, the Maharashtra government moved Dr. Puja Khedkar, a probationary IAS official, from Pune to Washim. She will now work for Washim as a super numery assistant collector.
Following a letter to the Chief Secretary from Pune Collector Dr. Suhas Diwase, this action was taken.
“The 2023 batch IAS officer will serve the remaining period of her probation as super numerary assistant collector in Washim district,” the judgment added.
After requesting special rights from the Collector’s office that were not granted to probation officers, Khedkar courted trouble.
She also caused a stir in the administration by driving her own Audi, which had a VIP number plate and a red-blue beacon light. Additionally, she had a “Maharashtra government” board mounted on her personal vehicle.
Khedkar also made unfair demands, which included an official car with a VIP number plate, accomodation, an official chamber with adequate staff and a constable.
As per rules, a trainee is not provided with the above amenities and is required to be appointed as a gazetted officer first.
Khedkar, however, did not stop at this. She also occupied the ante-chamber of additional collector Ajay More when he was away and put up a board with her name.
Khedkar, who secured an All India Rank (AIR) of 841 in UPSC, even removed all the materials, including chairs, sofas, tables, without the prior consent of the additional collector.
She then instructed the revenue assistant to provide a letterhead, visiting card, paperweight, nameplate, royal seal, intercom in her name.
Khedkar’s father, a retired administrative officer, also reportedly pressured the District Collector’s office to fulfil his daughter’s demands and warned the officers of repercussions.
IAS officer Puja Khedkar's parents, having a non-creamy layer certificate, possess property that includes 110 acres of agricultural land, violating the Agricultural Land Ceiling Act, 6 shops (1.6 lakh sq ft), 7 flats, including one in Hiranandani; 900 grams of gold, diamonds, a… pic.twitter.com/V9u1P5CQ0O
— Vijay Kumbhar (@VijayKumbhar62) July 11, 2024
RTI activist Vijay Kumbhar said Puja Khedkar became an IAS officer from the OBC non-creamy layer category, but her father’s election affidavit showed his wealth to be worth Rs 40 crore.
“How can such income fall into the non-creamy layer? She has admitted to being mentally ill and a person with multiple disabilities. However, she skipped medical examinations several times. How did she qualify for IAS? These are big questions,” the activist said.
