Controversial IAS trainee Puja Khedkar's career under threat; faces multiple probes, FIR against parents

Indian Administrative Service (IAS) probationary officer Dr Pooja Khedkar, who recently entered service through the competitive exam under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) categories, is currently facing multiple probes for her alleged misuse of power.

Despite being from an influential family, Pooja declared herself to be from the non-creamy layer and reportedly cited her visual and mental disabilities. She is an MBBS graduate from Pune and specializes as an endocrinologist.

The IAS trainee secured an All India Rank 821 in the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) examination in 2022.

Her father, Dilip Khedkar, is a former Maharashtra government officer, who had allegedly threatened and intimidated government staff.

He had also unsuccessfully contested the 2024 Lok Sabha polls from Ahmednagar from the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi.

In the affidavits submitted to the Election Commission, he had mentioned his wealth to be worth ₹ 40 crore while his wife Manorama Khedkar’s assets were noted to be around ₹ 18 crore.

Her mother Manorama, is a Sarpanch of Bhalgaon village in Pathardi tehsil of Ahmednagar. Puja’s maternal grandfather, Jagganath Budhavant, was also an IAS officer.

The Prime Minister’s Officer (PMO) and the Maharashtra government have taken serious cognizance of the offences and her conduct.

A single-member committee chaired by a senior officer of the rank of Additional Secretary to the Government of India has been constituted by the government to verify the candidature claims and other details of Pooja. The committee will submit a report in two weeks.

The Mussoorie-based Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), which trains IAS officers, has also sought a report from the Maharashtra government.

Puja had not undergone tests at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) to prove her PwBD status. Although The UPSC had challenged her in the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), which had ruled against her, she still was inducted.

What's the controversy
Puja, 32, had repeatedly demanded a separate office, car, residential quarters and staff - privileges before joining as Assistant Collector in Pune on June 3, 2024. These services are not typically provided to trainee IAS officers.

Her father also used his influence to try to meet these demands but was denied by the Pune Collector's office.

After joining, Khedkar occupied the office of the Pune Additional Collector while he was away, removing his nameplate and rearranging furniture.

She also used her private luxury Audi car with a red-blue beacon light, VIP number plate and "Government of Maharashtra" sticker during her probation.

She further demanded a designated cabin with an attached washroom, a car, residential quarters, and a peon for herself - which is generally not given to Probationary Officers.

FIR against parents
Pune police have registered a case after an old video showing Puja's mother threatening a group of farmers with a gun in her hand went viral online.

Manorama Khedkar is seen in the video wielding a pistol while engaging in a heated exchange with local farmers over a land dispute in Mulshi.

In the clip, she is confronting a man and demanding to see land documents reportedly in her name, waving the weapon in his direction and concealing it upon noticing the camera.

The FIR is registered against Manorama for voluntarily causing hurt, and criminal intimidation and also names her husband, Dilip as an accused in the case. He is also a retired administrative officer.

Probe into the use of beacon on private car

Pune police on July 14 confiscated a luxury car used by Pooja, who allegedly installed a red beacon light on it illegally, an official said.

The Pune Regional Transport Office (RTO) had on July 11 issued a notice to a city-based private company, the registered owner of the Audi car that Pooja used during her posting here.

As many as 21 challans with total charges of ₹ 27,000 were issued in the past against the Audi car, which was registered at the Pune RTO on June 27, 2012, for alleged traffic violations. The fine has been paid, as per officials.

What next

Following the controversy, Pooja was transferred from Pune to Washim district before the completion of her training.

According to official sources, Pooja may be terminated from service if found guilty by the committee formed to investigate the matter.