Pune: Allegations against IAS Officer Puja Khedkar Keep Mounting, Now Faces Illegal Encroachment Notice
In more trouble for IAS probationary officer Puja Khedkar, Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) officials have issued a notice of illegal encroachment at her residence. According to the PMC’s Encroachment Department, Khedkar’s residence had unauthorised construction or obstructions on public roads or footpaths under the corporation’s jurisdiction.
While the details of Khedkar’s specific case are not publicly known, the PMC’s encroachment removal process typically involves issuing notices, conducting surveys, and ultimately demolishing or clearing the illegal structures if the owner fails to comply. Khedkar has found herself in the middle of a massive controversy over alleged misuse of power and privileges. Officials said all documents presented by her to secure her candidature in the civil services examination and then for selection in the service will be re-examined by a single-member committee constituted by the Centre on Thursday.
#WATCH | Maharashtra: Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) officials put up a notice of illegal encroachment at the residence of Trainee IAS officer Puja Khedkar. pic.twitter.com/JdTGfg04A5
— ANI (@ANI) July 13, 2024
She may be terminated from service if found guilty, said officials.
“The officer may be terminated from the service if found guilty. She may face criminal charges also in case she is found to have misrepresented a fact or done any sort of manipulation in documents relied upon for her selection,” said PTI citing official sources.
Khedkar, a 2023-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, is under probation and currently posted in her home cadre Maharashtra. The 34-year-old officer is in the eye of a storm over allegedly misusing the disability and Other Backward Class (OBC) quota to secure a 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.
In the meantime, Khedkar on Thursday assumed her new role as assistant collector at the Washim District Collectorate in the Vidarbha region after being transferred from Pune where she allegedly bullied everyone around and also placed a red beacon atop a private Audi (a luxury sedan) car used by her that also had ‘Maharashtra Government’ written on it.
Under Intense Scrutiny
Khedkar has been under intense scrutiny for allegedly manipulating benefits under the physical disabilities category and OBC quota to secure her position in the Indian Administrative Service. The controversial officer was shunted out to Washim after Pune district collector Suhas Diwase wrote to state additional chief secretary Nitin Gadre requesting him to consider giving a posting to Khedkar in another district to avoid “administrative complications”.
Diwase had sought action against Khedkar for her behaviour, including alleged aggressive treatment of junior staff, illegal occupation of the ante-chamber of additional collector Ajay More, and violations pertaining to sporting a red beacon on the Audi and flashing it during the day, among others. The Pune Regional Transport Office (RTO) has issued a notice to a private company there, which is the registered owner of the Audi car used by Khedkar.
In a related development, Navi Mumbai police have reported to the Maharashtra government that Khedkar had allegedly tried to pressure a DCP-rank officer to release a man held in a theft case, an official said on Friday. The incident had occurred on May 18 at Panvel police station wherein Khedkar allegedly phoned Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Vivek Pansare and urged him to release a transporter, Ishwar Uttarwade, arrested in a theft case.
Case Against Officer’s Mother
Additionally, a video has emerged showing Khedkar’s mother Manorama brandishing a gun and threatening a farmer in a land dispute case. A case has been registered in the matter.
According to the police, the FIR has been registered at Paud police station in Pune based on the complaint of the farmer who alleged having been threatened by the trainee IAS officer’s mother.
“The Police have registered an FIR against Manorama Khedkar, Dilip Khedkar, parents of trainee IAS officer Pooja Khedkar and five others. The FIR was filed last night at Paud police station based on the complaint of a local farmer who alleged that he was threatened by Manorama Khedkar. Charges under the Arms Act have also been included,” said the police.
