On Sunday, Pune police confiscated a luxury Audi car used by controversial trainee IAS officer Puja Khedkar, who is currently under scrutiny for allegedly misusing her Other Backward Class (OBC) and Person with Benchmark Disabilities (PwD) certificates. The car, brought to Chaturshrangi Police Station, had unauthorized modifications, including a red beacon light and ‘Maharashtra Government’ markings.
The Pune Regional Transport Office (RTO) had issued a notice to the car’s registered owner, a private company, leading to the vehicle’s confiscation. The 34-year-old probationary IAS officer is accused of utilizing the car with unauthorized government symbols. Senior police officials confirmed that the car’s documents are being examined, and further investigations are underway.
Khedkar’s controversies extend beyond the misuse of certificates. She has been in the spotlight for demanding facilities not typically available to probationary officers. Allegations have also surfaced regarding her submission of fake disability and OBC certificates to clear the civil services exam. The central government has established a single-member committee to investigate Khedkar’s candidature and alleged misuse of power. This committee, chaired by an Additional Secretary-level officer, is expected to submit its findings within two weeks.
In defense of his daughter, retired bureaucrat Dilip Khedkar, who previously worked with the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board, claims that she is a victim of a conspiracy. He asserts that her disability certificate, which documents over 40% vision impairment and a verified mental illness, is legitimate. Despite these claims, Khedkar failed to present herself for a medical examination at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, on multiple occasions, citing COVID-19 as the reason for her absence.
Questions have also been raised about Khedkar availing OBC reservation benefits despite her family’s substantial wealth, which reportedly exceeds the ₹8 lakh limit prescribed under the creamy layer condition. Dilip Khedkar has stated that he will address these allegations soon.
Further complicating the situation, a video surfaced showing Khedkar’s mother, Manorama, brandishing a firearm on disputed farmland in Mulshi. Following this, an FIR was registered by the Pune Rural SP. Dilip Khedkar defended his wife, asserting that the land legally belongs to their family and that the firearm was carried for self-defense with appropriate permissions.
Khedkar was recently transferred from Pune to Washim after being accused of high-handedness by the Pune district collector. Her father contends that the situation is more complex than it appears and suggests that there were issues within the collector’s office that have not been publicly disclosed.
The ongoing investigation and multiple allegations have put Puja Khedkar in a challenging position as she navigates the scrutiny of her actions and credentials.
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