Last Updated on 11/07/2024 by wccexam Desk
Pooja Khedkar in controversies
Puja Khedkar, Maharashtra’s trainee IAS officer Pooja Khedkar is in the news these days. She was transferred due to alleged misuse of power. Now it is slowly being revealed what kind of demands she had put forward due to which she got embroiled in controversies. Her WhatsApp chat records show that Pooja had demanded a separate cabin, a car and a house for herself. These things have come to light from her WhatsApp chat with the Pune District Collector. Pooja Khedkar had made these demands before taking charge as Assistant Collector in Pune.
What is mentioned in the report on Pooja Khedkar
According to an India Today report, the district collector had put forth these demands before the chief secretary. In his report, he had suggested that it would be inappropriate to continue Puja Khedkar’s training in Pune and mentioned that it could lead to administrative complications. He had offered Puja her own room. Puja refused to take it due to the lack of an attached bathroom, the collector’s report said. Puja Khedkar had also visited the office with her father Dilip Khedkar and proposed to use a VIP hall located next to the mining department as her cabin.
Transferred to Washim district
However, Pooja Khedkar was told that she is not entitled to these facilities on probation, and she will definitely be provided accommodation. Following the report of the district collector, Khedkar, a 2023 batch IAS officer, has been transferred to Washim district to complete her training. She will serve as ‘Supernumerary Assistant Collector’ till July 30, 2025.
Red-blue light in private Audi car
Trainee IAS Puja also had red-blue beacon and VIP number plate installed in her personal Audi car and had also put a board of ‘Maharashtra Government’ on her personal car. After the controversy, investigation of her appointment documents revealed that she had allegedly submitted fake disability and Other Backward Class (OBC) certificates to pass the civil services exam.
Took civil services exam under OBC and visually impaired categories
Khedkar had taken the civil services exam under the OBC and visually impaired categories. She had also submitted a certificate of mental illness. In April 2022, Pooja was asked to undergo medical tests at AIIMS to verify her disability. However, Pooja Khedkar refused to appear for these tests on six separate occasions, an official said. Later, she submitted an MRI scanning certificate obtained from a private centre which was accepted and her IAS appointment was confirmed.