News Mania Desk/Agnibeena Ghosh/11th July 2024
Pooja Khedkar, a probationary IAS officer initially posted in Pune, has been transferred to Washim in central Maharashtra amidst allegations of power misuse. According to an official order, Khedkar will complete her training term in Washim until July 30, 2025.
Khedkar, a 2022-batch IAS officer of the Maharashtra cadre, ranked 841 in the UPSC exam. Her recent actions sparked controversy, primarily due to her use of a private Audi car equipped with a red-blue beacon light and a VIP number plate, which is typically reserved for high-ranking officials. Additionally, she demanded facilities not available to probationary officers, such as a separate cabin, car, residential quarters, and a peon, even before she officially joined her duties on June 3.
The Pune collector, Suhas Diwse, submitted a report to the General Administration Department detailing Khedkar’s demands and behavior. Despite being denied these facilities, Khedkar’s father, a retired administrative officer, reportedly pressured the district collector’s office to fulfill her requests. The trainee IAS officer also allegedly removed the nameplate of a senior official at the Pune collector’s office when he allowed her to use his ante-chamber as her office.
The controversy surrounding Khedkar extended beyond these demands. Reports from PTI claimed that she submitted fake disability and Other Backward Class (OBC) certificates to clear the civil services exam. Allegedly, she also provided a mental illness certificate. In April 2022, Khedkar was instructed to report to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi for verification of her disability certificate. However, she did not comply, citing a Covid infection.
This series of events has led to significant scrutiny from higher authorities. The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has sought a detailed report on Khedkar’s actions from the Pune collector. This request underscores the severity of the allegations and the potential implications for the integrity of the civil services examination process.
The transfer to Washim is seen as a move to mitigate the immediate issues and allow for a thorough investigation into the allegations against Khedkar. While she continues her training in Washim, the focus will be on ensuring that the investigation is conducted impartially and thoroughly.
This incident highlights the critical importance of maintaining ethical standards and integrity within the civil services. The misuse of power and falsification of documents undermine public trust and the credibility of the selection process for government officers. The authorities’ response to these allegations will be closely watched as it will set a precedent for handling similar cases in the future.
As Khedkar’s case unfolds, it serves as a reminder of the rigorous standards and ethical conduct expected from those in public service. The outcomes of this investigation and the subsequent actions taken will play a crucial role in reinforcing the principles of accountability and transparency within the Indian administrative framework.
