Lagatar24 Desk
Pune: Probationary IAS officer Puja Khedkar has come under scrutiny following her transfer from Pune due to alleged misuse of power. This controversy has revealed details about her civil services examination attempts, where she claimed to be visually impaired and mentally ill in her affidavit submitted to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).
Khedkar’s claimed disabilities granted her special concessions during the UPSC selection process. Despite scoring low marks, these concessions enabled her to pass the exams, securing an All India Rank (AIR) of 841. Following her selection, UPSC mandated medical tests to verify her disabilities. However, Khedkar missed these tests on six occasions.
Her first scheduled medical examination at AIIMS in Delhi on April 22, 2022, was missed, citing Covid-19. She subsequently skipped appointments on May 26 and 27 at AIIMS and Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi, and again on July 1. Although she initially agreed to a medical examination on August 26, 2022, she failed to attend the crucial MRI on September 2, which was intended to assess her vision loss.
Instead of attending the tests, Khedkar submitted an MRI report from an external center, which the UPSC rejected. The UPSC then challenged her selection in the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), which ruled against her on February 23, 2023. Despite this ruling, her MRI certificate was later accepted, confirming her IAS appointment.
Additionally, inconsistencies were found in Khedkar’s claims to OBC non-creamy layer status. RTI activist Vijay Kumbhar revealed that the election affidavit of Dilip Khedkar, Puja Khedkar’s father, showed his wealth to be worth Rs 40 crore. Given her father’s wealth, Khedkar’s eligibility for OBC non-creamy layer status is questionable. Dilip Khedkar had contested the 2024 Lok Sabha polls on a Vanchit Bahujan Aaghadi ticket.
“How can such income fall into the non-creamy layer? She has admitted to being mentally ill and a person with multiple disabilities. However, she skipped medical examinations several times. How did she qualify for IAS? These are big questions,” Kumbhar stated.
The details emerged after the Maharashtra government transferred Khedkar from Pune to Washim due to complaints of power misuse. This move followed a letter from Pune Collector Dr. Suhas Diwase to the Chief Secretary. Khedkar will now serve as a supernumerary assistant collector in Washim.
During her probation in Pune, Khedkar was found to have made several demands for privileges not permitted to probationary officers. She used her private Audi car with a red-blue beacon light and a VIP number plate, installed a ‘Maharashtra government’ board on her vehicle, and requested an official car, accommodation, an office chamber, and additional staff.
She even occupied the ante-chamber of the additional collector in his absence and instructed staff to provide personalized office supplies. Her father, a retired administrative officer, reportedly pressured the District Collector’s office to fulfill her demands, threatening consequences if they were not met.
