On Saturday (13th July), an FIR was registered against the parents of the trainee IAS officer Puja Khedkar, for allegedly threatening a farmer with a pistol. The Police lodged an FIR based on a farmer’s complaint after an old video went viral in which Puja Khedkar’s mother, Manorama Khedkar was seen pointing a pistol at farmers. Notably, Puja has been in the news for allegedly making VIP demands during training and reportedly faking mental disability to gain concessions in the Civil Services process. The development comes after the central government formed a panel to probe trainee IAS officer Puja Khedkar’s candidature.
Based on the viral video, Manorama Khedkar was booked under sections 323, 504, 506, 143, 144, 147, 148, and 149 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and various sections of the Indian Arms Act. The Police have also booked Puja’s father, Dilip Khedkar, and five others.
According to the police, the FIR was registered at Paud police station in Pune based on the complaint of the farmer who said that the mother of the trainee IAS officer had threatened him.
The Police said, “The Police have registered an FIR against Manorama Khedkar, Dilip Khedkar, parents of trainee IAS officer Pooja Khedkar, and five others. The FIR was filed last night at Paud police station based on the complaint of a local farmer who alleged that he was threatened by Manorama Khedkar. Charges under the Arms Act have also been included.”
Earlier, on Thursday, July 11, the central government formed a single-member committee to probe allegations of irregularities in Khedkar’s candidature.
In a statement, the Ministry of Personnel said that the committee is chaired by a senior officer of the rank of Additional Secretary under the Central Government and that it will submit its report in two weeks.
The statement read, “The Central Government has constituted a single-member committee, chaired by a senior officer of the rank of Additional Secretary to the Government of India, to verify the candidature claims and other details of IAS Puja Manorma Dilip Khedkar, a candidate of Civil Services Examination 2022 and earlier CSEs. The Committee will submit its report in 2 weeks.”
Furthermore, the Pune Municipal Corporation is also likely to take action against illegal encroachment on the footpath outside Puja Khedkar’s family bungalow and others nearby, with Bulldozers seen on standby near the bungalow.
Allegations of VIP demand and forgery in disability and caste certificate: Controversies surrounding trainee IAS officer Puja Khedkar
Probationary IAS officer Puja Khedkar made headlines after she was transferred from Pune to Washim due to alleged misuse of power. The controversy erupted when she used her private Audi car with a red-blue beacon light and VIP number plate. She also demanded facilities that are not available to probationary officers in the services.
According to a report submitted by Pune collector Suhas Diwse to the General Administration Department, Khedkar repeatedly demanded that she be provided with a separate cabin, car, residential quarters, and a peon even before joining the duty as a trainee on June 3. However, she was denied the claims.
Soon after questions were raised about her candidature in the Civil Services Exam. It has been reported that she submitted fake disability and Other Backward Class (OBC) certificates to clear the civil services exam. Reports say that she had also submitted a mental illness certificate. Her affidavit showed that she claimed to be visually impaired and mentally ill in her affidavit to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).
In an affidavit to the UPSC, Khedkar asserted that she was visually and mentally impaired to gain concessions in the selection process. However, she refused to undergo a required medical examination six times to verify her disabilities. Khedkar, originally from Ahmednagar, is an IAS officer from the 2023 batch.
The Commission later contested her selection, and in February 2023, a tribunal ruled against her. However, she still managed to have her civil service appointment confirmed. Now, a single-member committee constituted by the Central government is probing into allegations of irregularities in her candidature.
(With Inputs from ANI)
