New Delhi/Mumbai:

Trainee IAS officer Puja Khedkar, who is in the eye of a storm over alleged misuse of power and claims that she made in her UPSC candidature, has landed in more trouble with the central government launching a probe against her.

Ms Khedkar had courted controversy over using a siren on her private Audi and raising demands for a separate house and car – privileges not available to junior officers. But the 2023-batch IAS officer now faces far more serious charges that raise questions about her selection process in the civil services.

Manoj Dwivedi, additional secretary in the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), has started the investigation against her, which will be completed in two weeks.

She may be dismissed if she’s found guilty, sources said.

She may also face criminal action if the allegations of hiding facts and misrepresentation are found to be true, they added.

When confronted by the media, she has remained tight-lipped on the charges against her, maintaining she was “not authorised” to speak about the matter.

Ms Khedkar, who was posted as an assistant collector in Pune, was transferred to Washim after the Pune Collector raised a complaint with the Chief Secretary of the state government.

The action came after she was found using a siren and a “Government of Maharashtra” sticker on her private luxury sedan. She was also found using the Pune Additional Collector Ajay More’s office while he was away. She reportedly removed office furniture and even demanded letterheads and a VIP number plate. These perks are not available for junior officers – who are on probation for 24 months.

Reports suggest that her father – a retired administrative officer – had even pushed for her demands to be fulfilled.

Questions have also arisen over her claim of Other Backward Classes (OBC) status. She had also claimed several disabilities to avail concessions in the UPSC selection process, but refused to undergo mandatory medical tests to confirm those.

A new controversy has also erupted after an old video showing her mother threatening a group of men with a gun in her hand surfaced online.

Mumbai:

Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP Milind Deora has called for “accountability from within” the system for the country’s bureaucracy, including the Indian Administrative Service that is the backbone of domestic governance. Mr Deora’s comments come amid outrage over the Puja Khedkar row.

A 2003-batch IAS officer, Ms Khedkar made headlines this week after it emerged she may have lied about suffering visual and mental disabilities to secure a posting despite a low qualifying score, and then wheedled officials into giving her perks not permitted for on-probation officers.

Individuals in public service, Mr Deora said, had to be held accountable for their actions.

Politicians, he pointed out, had such a system – an election. “Many times we politicians are criticised, regardless of which party we belong to… and rightfully so, I welcome it. But please keep in mind politicians still have a system of accountability. We get voted in and voted out…”

“Ultimately the public has the ability to throw us out of office.”

“But bureaucracy in India remains a largely unaccountable force… and ensuring accountability from within is very critical. Therefore, I say again, authorities must take swift action in this case.”

NDTV Explains | Who Is Puja Khedkar, What Is The Controversy Around Her

Mr Deora also demanded accountability from the judiciary.

“When we talk of reforms and improving governance… I believe politicians have that accountability but we have to also talk about judicial and administrative (or bureaucracy) reforms. How, in fact, are we making these pillars of our democracy more accountable? You can’t just say ‘we are making politicians accountable’… but then the judiciary and bureaucracy have no accountability.”

“Based on the reports I have read it is disturbing. I believe people who enter public service, bureaucrats or politicians or even those in the media, we have to hold ourselves to a standard. We have to ask ourselves why we are in our chosen professions…” Mr Deora told NDTV.

He referred to the “long legacy… (of) excellent bureaucrats” from Maharashtra and said he had, therefore, been “very perturbed” to hear of Ms Khedkar’s actions. “If this is the prevailing culture, we must weed out it immediately,” Mr Deora said, calling for a “through and impartial” inquiry.

“If these charges are found to be true… such officers must not be tolerated,” he said, stressing the need to inculcate a “culture of solid public service that is citizen friendly”.

READ | “Get It Done Before I Join…”: IAS Officer Puja Khedkar’s Messages

“We must do more to ensure such people don’t end up in public service,” he said, declaring those not fit should be encouraged not to enter the Civil Service. “The kind of culture we create is very important because, to be very frank with you, it is the bureaucrats who ultimately deliver public services.” 

Earlier today Mr Deora also posted on X (formerly Twitter) to voice his concern.

READ | “Those Lacking Merit, Ethics Not Fit…”: Sena MP On Trainee IAS Officer

“The allegations against IAS officer Pooja Khedkar are a serious reputational hazard to the service. Are you in government to serve or due to a sense of entitlement? I urge Maharashtra’s Chief Secretary to conduct a comprehensive and impartial investigation into these allegations without delay,” he said.

The allegations against #IAS officer Pooja Khedkar are a serious reputational hazard to the service. Are you in government to serve or due to a sense of entitlement?

I urge Maharashtra’s Chief Secretary to conduct a comprehensive & impartial investigation into these allegations…

— Milind Deora | मिलिंद देवरा (@milinddeora) July 11, 2024

“Ensuring justice and preserving public trust in our administrative service is crucial. The UPSC (the Union Public Service Commission, the training organisation) is known for producing high-caliber officers for public service. Those lacking merit and ethics are not fit to hold public offices,” he added.

A 2023-batch IAS officer, Ms Khedkar faces multiple charges. Since the allegations surfaced, she has been shunted out of her post as an Assistant Collector in Pune to a supernumary position in Washim.

WATCH | Trainee IAS Officer’s First Chat With Media After Big Allegations

In her first interaction with the media since the allegations broke, Ms Khedkar said she was “not authorised” to speak about the matter and that she is “happy” to begin her new role.

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Mumbai:

In her first interaction with the media amid serious allegations of misuse of power, trainee IAS officer Puja Khedkar said she was “not authorised” to speak about the matter and added that she is happy to begin her new role in Maharashtra’s Washim.

The 2023-batch IAS officer has hit national headlines in the wake of serious allegations of impropriety and misuse of her position as a bureaucrat. It is alleged that she had been using a siren, VIP number plates and a “Government of Maharashtra” sticker on her privately-owned Audi sedan.

Amid the allegations, she has been transferred to Washim. Responding to the media’s queries this morning, Ms Khedkar said she is not authorised to speak on the allegations against her. “I am very happy to join Washim district and looking forward to working here.”

Pressed further to respond to the allegations, the bureaucrat said, “Government rules do not allow me to speak anything on this matter. So sorry, I cannot speak,” she said.

Among the allegations against her is that she was using Pune Additional Collector Ajay More’s office while he was away. She allegedly removed office furniture and also asked for letterheads. Junior IAS officers, who are on probation for two years after they join the service, are not entitled to such perks.

In a letter to the state’s top civil servants, including Chief Secretary Sujata Saunik, Pune collector Dr Suhas Diwase detailed the charges against the trainee IAS officer.

It has emerged that Ms Khedkar made various unfair demands, the letter states. These included an official car with a VIP number plate, accommodation and an official chamber with adequate staff. According to rules, an officer on probation cannot be provided with these facilities.

Reports suggest that her father – a retired administrative officer – allegedly pushed for her demands to be fulfilled.

The row has also put the spotlight on how Ms Khedkar cleared the UPSC screening process for IAS aspirants — among the toughest competitive exams in the country. Her claim for concession as an OBC candidate has come under the lens too.

It has emerged that she claimed to be a visually and mentally impaired candidate to seek concession, but did not undergo a mandatory medical test for confirmation.

Unconfirmed reports suggest she skipped the tests five times and half-attended a sixth – she did not appear for an MRI test to assess vision loss.

She had ranked 841 in the all-India exam — an unimpressive rank. In fact, the Union Public Service Commission that recruits top civil servants had challenged her selection, and a tribunal ruled against her in February 2023. It is not clear yet how her appointment was confirmed. She passed the uber-competitive Civil Services Exam despite scoring a relatively low all-India rank of 841.