New Delhi
Probationary IAS officer Puja Khedkar, embroiled in a controversy over alleged misuse of power and privileges, faces potential termination from service if found guilty, according to official sources on Friday. All documents submitted by Khedkar for her candidature in the civil services examination and subsequent selection will be re-examined by a single-member committee constituted by the Centre on Thursday.
Investigation and Potential Consequences
“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,” a source revealed.
Khedkar, a 2023 batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer currently on probation, is posted in her home cadre Maharashtra. The 34-year-old officer is accused of misusing the disability and Other Backward Class (OBC) quota to secure her position in the IAS.
Probe Committee and Current Posting
The single-member probe committee, headed by Manoj Kumar Dwivedi, Additional Secretary in the Department of Personnel and Training, has been tasked with submitting its report within two weeks, sources said.
On Thursday, Khedkar assumed her new role as assistant collector at the Washim District Collectorate in the Vidarbha region, following her transfer from Pune. Her tenure in Pune was marked by allegations of bullying and misuse of power, including placing a red beacon atop her private Audi car.
Allegations and Transfer
Khedkar has been under intense scrutiny for allegedly manipulating benefits under the physical disabilities category and OBC quota to secure her position in the IAS. The controversial officer was transferred to Washim after Pune district collector Suhas Diwase requested state additional chief secretary Nitin Gadre to consider reassigning Khedkar to another district to avoid “administrative complications.”
Diwase had sought action against Khedkar for her behavior, which included alleged aggressive treatment of junior staff, illegal occupation of the ante-chamber of additional collector Ajay More, and violations related to the use of a red beacon on her Audi, among other issues.
Conclusion
The investigation into Puja Khedkar’s conduct and qualifications is ongoing, and the outcome will determine her future in the Indian Administrative Service. If found guilty, Khedkar could face termination and potential criminal charges, marking a significant development in her controversial tenure.
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