The Pune Collector's Office was thrown into disarray on Tuesday, 9th July, due to the actions of IAS trainee Puja Khedkar, resulting in her transfer to Washim district. This event has ignited significant discussion and scrutiny regarding her conduct and the broader implications for IAS training standards.

Khedkar’s demands were highly unusual for a trainee, including an official car with a VIP number plate, a red-blue beacon light, and a personal office chamber with dedicated staff. These requests were not in line with what is typically permitted for someone at her level of training, which prompted Pune Collector Dr. Suhas Diwase to seek the intervention of Chief Secretary Sujata Sainik.

Further complicating the issue, Khedkar's father, Diliprao, who is a retired administrative officer, reportedly pressured the Collector’s Office to meet these demands. He is said to have threatened serious repercussions if his daughter's requests were not accommodated.

Additionally, Khedkar took matters into her own hands by using her private vehicle, to which she had affixed a VIP number plate, and temporarily taking over the office of Additional Collector Ajay More in his absence. She boldly placed her sign on his door, effectively claiming his office as her own.

Khedkar's transfer to Washim appears to be a direct response to her inappropriate demands and the disruptions caused at the Pune office. This incident raises significant concerns about the criteria and expectations set for IAS officers during their training period, particularly regarding their understanding of administrative boundaries and ethical conduct.

For the past three months, the situation at the Pune Collector's Office has been fraught with tension due to the actions of IAS trainee Puja Khedkar. According to an officer who spoke exclusively to Pune Mirror, Khedkar has been pressing for privileges that are not granted to trainees. He stated, “The father-daughter duo were making unfair demands and harassing the officers for demands that could legally not be fulfilled.”

The ongoing issues are further complicated by allegations against her father, Diliprao Khedkar, who previously held a position with the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB). Reports suggest that he has been leveraging his former status to exert influence over senior officials, including the collector, additional collector, and resident deputy collector, to secure special treatment for his daughter.

The controversy escalated when an image of Khedkar's private vehicle equipped with unauthorized red-blue beacon lights circulated online, drawing public and media attention. This incident illuminated the extent of her demands and the potential misuse of official symbols.

Further allegations have surfaced that Khedkar might have taken over the ante-chamber of Additional District Collector Ajay More without his consent, marking another breach of protocol. This series of events has not only caused disruption within the office but also sparked broader concerns about the abuse of power and influence in administrative settings.

Maharashtra IAS Officer Dr. Pooja Khedkar Accused of Using Fake Certificates for Selection

Dr. Pooja Khedkar, a member of the 2022 IAS batch from Maharashtra, is currently embroiled in a significant scandal involving the alleged use of counterfeit disability and Other Backward Class (OBC) certificates to secure her position within the Indian Administrative Service (IAS).

The details of the allegations have come to light through documents submitted to the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT). These documents reveal that Dr. Khedkar pursued the UPSC examination slots reserved for candidates under the OBC and visually impaired categories. Adding to the controversy, she also provided a mental illness certificate to the UPSC to facilitate her appointment to the IAS.

The case has not only legal ramifications but has also captured the attention of the public on social media, where discussions highlight her contentious entry into the IAS. A pivotal document from the UPSC dated February 2, 2022, indicates that Dr. Khedkar was initially denied an appointment. In response, she approached the courts, filing an affidavit claiming visual impairment and mental illness, seeking judicial intervention against the federal government and the UPSC.

In an attempt to verify her claims, the court ordered medical examinations, which were scheduled approximately four times between July and September 2022. However, Dr. Khedkar did not attend any of these appointments, thereby preventing any assessment of her claimed visual disability. She later asserted that she was suffering from claustrophobia, but this too was not substantiated. Consequently, the tribunal dismissed her petition and declined to provide any relief.

Further complications arose when Dr. Khedkar was requested by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi to verify her disability certificate. She did not comply with this request, citing a COVID-19 infection in April 2022 as the reason for her inability to attend the medical test at AIIMS.

Despite repeated calls to undergo necessary tests to verify her disability claims, Dr. Khedkar has persistently refused, citing a variety of reasons for her non-compliance. This has raised significant doubts about the authenticity of her disability status.

The controversy deepened when it was revealed that Dr. Khedkar allegedly provided a disability verification report from a local private hospital, which was later contested as fraudulent. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) took the matter to the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), challenging the authenticity of the certificate she submitted. Despite the ongoing dispute, Dr. Khedkar mysteriously received her order to join as a probationary officer in Pune, with allegations suggesting she may have leveraged political connections to facilitate this process.

During a 2023 court hearing, Judge MG Shevlikar's bench referred to the affidavit under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act of 2016, which played a role in her continuation in the service. Dr. Khedkar subsequently joined the ranks of the Indian Administrative Service, despite the swirling controversies.

The issue has not gone unnoticed by the public, particularly among activists in Pune. One activist, Vijay Kumhar, was instrumental in bringing these concerns to light, spearheading the call for a thorough investigation into Dr. Khedkar’s entry into the IAS. According to records, Dr. Khedkar secured rank 821 under the Persons with Disabilities (PwD-5) category, which has been central to the ongoing scrutiny of her credentials.

On 9th July, in response to escalating complaints and the complex nature of the allegations, Chief Secretary Sujata Sainik took decisive action. She established a committee tasked with investigating the various aspects of Dr. Khedkar’s appointment. This committee is expected to conduct a comprehensive review and submit a detailed report on their findings.

Sources have reported that Dr. Khedkar assumed unauthorized control over the Pune Collector's private chamber, asserting that it rightfully belonged to her due to her status as an IAS officer. Alongside this audacious claim, she demanded the assignment of a peon and additional staff to cater to her needs.

This behavior did not go unnoticed and eventually led to a formal complaint by the state's Chief Secretary. In response to these actions and the ensuing controversy, the government made the decision to transfer her from Pune to Washim in the Vidarbha region. Notably, her initial posting in Pune, her home district, was itself a breach of protocol, as IAS officers are typically not assigned to their home regions. It has been alleged that Dr. Khedkar used her political connections to secure this advantageous posting, further complicating her standing within the administrative services.

Adding to the complexity of Dr. Khedkar’s situation is her classification under the Other Backward Class (OBC) category for the civil services examination. The criteria for this category include a creamy layer limitation, where the annual parental income should not exceed Rs 8 lakh. However, documents and investigations reveal that her father, Dilip Khedkar, a retired senior officer of the Maharashtra government, declared a conservative estimated wealth of Rs 40 crore and an annual income of Rs 49 lakh, which starkly contrasts with the OBC eligibility requirements. In reality, his total assets are estimated to be well over Rs 100 crore, raising significant questions about the accuracy and honesty of the financial declarations made for her OBC category application.

Who is Pooja Khedkar?

Pooja Khedkar is currently known as an IAS trainee officer belonging to the 2022 batch. She attained rank 821 under the Persons with Disabilities (Pwd-5) category in the prestigious UPSC examinations. Initially posted as an assistant collector in Pune, her tenure there was marked by controversy, leading to her subsequent transfer to Washim.

Her family has a notable history in public service. Pooja Khedkar’s grandfather served as a civil servant, providing a foundational influence for her career in administration. Additionally, her mother holds a significant political role as the elected sarpanch of Bhalgaon in the Pathardi taluka of Ahmednagar district, further embedding the family within the fabric of local governance.

During her probation period, Pooja was expected to rotate through various departments, a typical process designed to furnish IAS officers with diverse experiences and comprehensive exposure to the functioning of government at different levels before their permanent appointments are finalized.

In a related note on her family's political engagements, Mr. Khedkar, Pooja's father, also ventured into politics, recently contesting in the Lok Sabha elections. He ran as a candidate from Prakash Ambedkar's Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi and garnered over 15,000 votes. Despite the ongoing controversies and their implications, both father and daughter have refrained from making any public comments regarding the situation.