July 16, 2024

Immediate Recall and Training Suspension In a surprising turn of events, IAS probationer Puja Khedkar has been “immediately recalled” to the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration in Mussoorie. Her current training in Maharashtra’s Washim district has been put on hold. The Maharashtra government’s General Administration Department issued a statement on July 16, confirming that Ms. Khedkar has been relieved from the District Training Programme and instructed to report back to the academy by July 23 at the latest. Abuse of Power and Alleged Fraud Puja Khedkar gained notoriety following allegations of abusing her power by seeking perks not allotted to trainee IAS officers. Additionally, she has been accused of faking a disability and submitting a false OBC certificate. Initially posted in Pune, Ms. Khedkar was transferred to Washim as a supernumerary assistant collector amid these revelations. The controversy escalated when it was discovered that Ms. Khedkar had installed a beacon on her private luxury sedan and illegally placed a Government of Maharashtra sticker on her car. These actions have brought further scrutiny on her and her family. Revelations About Her Family As the investigation into Ms. Khedkar’s actions continued, further revelations emerged about her parents, Manorama and Dilip Khedkar. The Pune police have registered a first information report (FIR) against Ms. Khedkar’s parents following the surfacing of a 2023 video clip showing Ms. Manorama Khedkar allegedly threatening a farmer with a gun over a land dispute. Official Probes and Certificate Authenticity Despite Ms. Khedkar’s claims of being subjected to a “media trial,” officials are probing the authenticity of the various certificates she submitted to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). Ms. Khedkar had provided two certificates from the Ahmednagar District Civil Hospital in 2018 and 2021 under the Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) category. However, she skipped six medical check-up appointments at Delhi’s All India Institute of Medical Sciences between April and August 2022. Adding to the controversy, it has been revealed that Ms. Khedkar applied for a disability certificate from Pune’s Aundh government hospital in August 2022, but her application was rejected. Future Implications The recall of Puja Khedkar and the ongoing investigations into her actions and those of her family underscore the seriousness of the allegations. The case serves as a reminder of the importance of integrity and transparency in public service. As the probes continue, the outcome will likely have significant implications for Ms. Khedkar’s career and for the measures taken to prevent similar instances in the future.