‘Controversial’ Trainee IAS Officer Puja Khedkar Recalled To Academy, Training Put On Hold

Mumbai: Trainee IAS officer Puja Khedkar, facing a DoPT inquiry over documents submitted to secure her candidature in the civil services, was on Tuesday relieved from the District Training Programme of the Maharashtra government following a directive from LBSNAA, Mussoorie.

She has been summoned by IAS Academy in Mussoorie for further action.

“…LBSNAA, Mussoorie has decided to keep your District Training Programme on hold and immediately recall you for further necessary action. Therefore. you are hereby relieved from District Training Programme of State Government of Maharashtra.
You are instructed to join the Academy at the earliest but not later than July 23 under any circumstances,” the letter from Nitin Gadre, Additional Chief Secretary (P), read.

Also Read: ‘Puja Khedkar Had 7% Locomotor Disability, But Benchmark To Avail Govt Benefits Is 40%’

It was alleged that the 32-year-old officer had demanded a separate office and official car, which she was not entitled to as a probationer. She was also accused of unauthorised use of red-blue beacon on her private car, a luxury Audi sedan which she claimed to have received as a “gift”.

Khedkar had secured an all-India rank of 841 in the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) exam.

Her mother, Manorama Khedkar, who is sarpanch of a Maharashtra village, is facing an Arms Act case after a video showed her brandishing a pistol during an argument, and father, Dilip Khedkar, a retired Maharashtra government officer, is a co-accused.