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This is an archive article published on July 11, 2024
Centre forms panel to probe row involving probationary IAS officer Pooja Khedkar
Pooja came into the limelight after reports about her alleged demands for a separate office, official car and unauthorised use of a beacon on her private car emerged.
The Maharashtra government late on Monday evening decided to transfer Pooja Khedkar from Pune to Washim. (File)
Amid questions over her appointment by allegedly availing Other Backward Class (OBC) benefits as well as disability concessions, the Centre on Thursday formed a one-member committee to look into the conduct of probationary IAS officer Pooja Khedkar.
An additional secretary in the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) will enquire into the matter and submit a report within two weeks.
“The central government has constituted a single-member committee, chaired by a senior officer of the rank of Additional Secretary to government of India to verify the candidature claims and other details of Ms. Puja Manorma Dilip Khedkar, a candidate of Civil Services Examination-2022 and earlier CSEs. The committee will submit its report in 2 weeks,” the Personnel Ministry said in a statement.
Pooja came into the limelight after reports about her alleged demands for a separate office, official car and unauthorised use of a beacon on her private car emerged. As a probationary officer, she was not entitled to use a beacon light on a vehicle, but she had done so nonetheless with her private vehicles. She had also demanded letter pads, as well as a separate office, staff and quarters – none of which she was entitled to. Posted as an assistant collector with the Pune district collector’s office, Khedkar had stood 841st in the country in the main civil services examinations.
Earlier this month, Pune District Collector Suhas Diwase also sent a report about Pooja and her father’s “objectionable behaviour” to the state government.
Social activists and social media users have raised questions about Pooja’s OBC (non-creamy layer) status since she ostensibly belongs to a well-to-do family.
The Maharashtra government late on Monday evening decided to transfer Khedkar from Pune to Washim. The government order — signed by S M Mahadik, assistant secretary, government of Maharashtra — said the transfer was done for administrative reasons.
With PTI inputs
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