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Investigation launched against trainee IAS officer Puja Khedkar; she will be sacked if found guilty. The centre has launched a probe into alleged misuse of power and some other claims made by trainee IAS Officer Puja Khedkar in her UPSC candidature.
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 allegations that raise questions over her selection process in the civil services.
An inquiry against her has been initiated by Manoj Dwivedi, additional secretary in DoPT, which will be completed within two weeks.
She may be dismissed if she’s found guilty, sources said.
She may also face criminal action if allegations of hiding facts and misrepresentation are found to be true, they added.
She has continued to be tight-lipped on the charges against her when confronted by the media and maintains that 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 a complaint was raised by the Pune Collector 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 when 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.
Some reports even suggest that her father, a retired administrative officer, had put in a word for getting her demands met.
