The Puja Khedkar “fake certificate saga” is reaching ridiculous heights every day. Lately, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has taken stringent action against alleged encroachments outside the controversial IAS officer’s family’s bungalow in Baner, Pune. It is pertinent to note that Officer Khedkar had lodged a complaint of harassment against Pune district collector Suhas Diwase (2009-batch IAS officer) on July 16th.
The Khedkar family had reportedly beautified their property by extending into the footpath area with trees and plants, which incurred a notice from PMC. Despite the foreboding by the authorities, the family had taken no actions to meet the concerned authority’s demand — eventually leading to a bulldozer operation, where a bulldozer was deployed to clear encroachments on the footpath adjacent to her residence.
Puja Khedkar’s Father, Ex-Bureaucrat Dilip Khedkar, Has Come Under ACB’s Scrutiny:
The Anti-Corruption Bureau (Maharashtra) asked the Ahmednagar ACB unit to submit a report on a complaint of unaccounted wealth made a few months ago against Mr. Khedkar. Mr. Khedkar is a retired state government official who ran for Parliament from Ahmednagar. An open inquiry is being done by the Ahmednagar unit, and a part was done by the ACB in Pune. The report has been sent to the ACB HQ in Mumbai.
The Khedkar family owns properties in both Pune and Ahmednagar. A few months ago, a complaint application was submitted to ACB about Dilip Khedkar’s alleged unaccounted wealth. A source in ACB said that Khedkar was earlier posted in Ahmednagar too. The family’s alleged unaccounted wealth came under the spotlight during the Khedkar certificates controversy.
IAS Puja Khedkar, an officer under training, has become a subject of intense discourse over the internet and national television after allegations arose that she had lied about her mental and visual condition, through “fraudulently” obtained certificates from the District Civil Hospital in Ahmednagar, to secure an officer’s post despite an unremarkable score in the ultra-competitive qualifying exam. Ms. Khedkar was “diagnosed” with Locomotor Disability and a 7% permanent disability concerning her left lower limb. She also obtained a second certificate which covered both low vision and mental illness (depression).
The conundrum was fueled when it was learnt that Ms. Khedkar, while going through the selection process for an IAS post, had refused to undergo a mandatory medical test to confirm her disabilities six times in a row! It is pertinent to mention that she had secured an All India Rank of 821 under the Physical Disability (PWD-5) category in the 2022 UPSC exams. Last week, the Union government established a one-member committee to verify Officer Khedkar’s candidature and instructed it to submit a report within two weeks. If proven guilty, Officer Khedkar will be sacked.
The entire fiasco unfurled after she made demands for a separate cabin and staff during her Pune posting. She even occupied the ante-chamber of another senior official and demanded a red-blue beacon light, a VIP number plate, and a ‘Maharashtra government’ board affixed to her private Audi car. The Chaturshringi traffic police division sent her a notice asking for the car to be brought for verification. The car was handed over to the police after removing the beacon and the stickers. The Audi had multiple pending e-challans, worth Rs 26,000 against 21 challans, issued against traffic violations — later paid off by the family’s driver.
As of now, LBSNAA has issued an order calling back the controversial probationary IAS, Ms. Puja Khedkar, for “further necessary action” for her shenanigans while being posted as the Super Numerary Assistant Collector in Pune.
