IAS trainee Puja Khedkar and her UPSC selection II VYGR

Due to the increasing controversy surrounding Puja Khedkar, a 32-year-old trainee IAS officer from the Maharashtra cadre, the Center has established a one-member panel to look into the allegations made against her. On June 3, 2024, Khedkar, an officer from the 2022 batch, was appointed as an assistant collector on probation to the Pune collectorate. However, her time was marred by acts of incompetence and unwarranted demands, which led district collector Suhas Diwase to forward a 25-page report to additional chief secretary Nitin Gadre.

In addition to garnering media attention, her illicit actions have cast questions on her selection and conduct as an IAS officer. With the NEET controversy doing the rounds for weeks now, this issue has also started to raise concerns about the misconduct of public examinations and its crucial effect on the future of the country's youth.

Everything that is wrong with Puja Khedkar's selection:

Recently, in an old video that went viral, she is seen asserting that her father makes very little money and that she doesn't communicate much with her parents because they are 'separated'. But none of her responses in the fictitious interview line up with reality.

Dilip Khedkar, her father and a former bureaucrat at the Maharashtra State Pollution Control Board, recently ran for the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi, led by Prakash Ambedkar, in the Lok Sabha election from his home district of Ahmednagar. His electoral affidavit states that he is worth more than Rs 40 crore.

Manorama Khedkar, Puja's mother, is also involved in public life and is the sarpanch of Bhalgaon village in Pathardi tehsil of Ahmednagar. Jagganath Rao Budhwant, Khedkar's maternal grandfather, was an IAS officer as well.

The claim regarding Khedkar's OBC non-creamy layer certificate is another matter that casts suspicion on her selection. Only applicants falling within the non-creamy layer category whose family's annual income is less than Rs 8 lakh are eligible. In addition to her father's fortune, Khedkar herself has four plots and two apartments in Pune and Ahmednagar valued at approximately Rs 17 crore, citing her 2023 statement of immovable property.

Repeated failure to appear for the medical test

Khedkar stated in her UPSC statement that she was mentally ill and visually impaired. She passed the test despite having a low score because of the accommodations made for underprivileged applicants. The specially-abled UPSC candidates who get selected must also pass medical exams. Khedkar, however, turned down the opportunity at least five times. It's now being questioned how she got past these exams to secure her appointment and how credible her assertions are.

Many activists have questioned her selection and claimed it to be the victim of significant corruption and manipulation. Their area of concern is that - when chosen for one of the most prestigious jobs in the world, it wouldn't make sense for anyone to not appear for the medical exam. People have urged for serious action and the central government has started to investigate the situation, as such failures result in shattering the hopes of many aspirants.

The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) additional secretary Manoj Dwivedi has begun an investigation against her, and it will be finished in two weeks. According to sources, if she is found guilty, she might be dismissed. They said that if it gets out that she did indeed conceal information and make false representations, she might also be charged with a crime. Pune police are currently investigating the charges as using a beacon on an unauthorised car is considered a violation of the law. Officials stated that they had not yet located the disputed vehicle.

Inputs: Agencies
Image Source: Multiple agencies