New Delhi: The district training of Puja Khedkar, the probationary IAS officer in the midst of a massive controversy after glaring discrepancies emerged in the disability and Other Backward Class (OBC) certificates that she submitted to secure a position in the civil service, has been cut short and she has been immediately recalled to the IAS academy in Mussoorie.
Khedkar has been instructed to join the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), Mussoorie, latest by 23 July.
A 2023-batch IAS officer, she secured an All India Rank (AIR) of 821 and submitted a disability certificate claiming multiple disabilities including visual impairment and depression, along with an OBC non-creamy layer certificate, implying that her family’s annual income is less than Rs 8 lakh.
The case came to light after the trainee IAS officer, who was on probation in the Pune district collector’s office, began allegedly harassing officers three months into her probation by demanding an official car with a VIP number plate, red beacon and an official chamber with adequate staff.
The Maharashtra government transferred her to Washim as supernumerary assistant collector following a complaint by Pune District Collector Suhas Diwase to the chief secretary about Khedkar’s misconduct.
In a written communication to Khedkar Tuesday, Maharashtra additional chief secretary Nitin Gadre informed her of LBSNAA’s decision to keep her district training programme on hold and recall her to the academy for “further necessary action”.
“Therefore, you are hereby relieved from the District Training Programme of the state government of Maharashtra. You are instructed to join the Academy at the earliest but not later than 23rd July, 2024 under any circumstances,” read the order signed by Gadre, which ThePrint has accessed.
LBSNAA’s decision to cut short Khedkar’s training comes close on the heels of a report submitted by the Maharashtra government to it about Khedkar’s conduct.
Shelesh Nawal, deputy director and in charge (establishment), LBSNAA, which comes under the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, wrote to the Maharashtra chief secretary today after taking note of the report of the state government on the conduct of probationer Khedkar.
The Maharashtra government submitted its report to LBSNAA on 11 July.
Parallely, the DoPT has also constituted a one-member committee to investigate the discrepancies in the documents submitted by Khedkar.
A senior government official, who did not wish to be named, told ThePrint that Khedkar can be dismissed from the IAS if it is found that she has submitted false OBC non-creamy layer and disability certificates.
In the letter dated 24 June, the Pune district collector had said that not only did Khedkar make outlandish demands, her father Dilip Khedkar, a retired IAS officer, had also allegedly intimidated the district staff, claiming they were mistreating his daughter, and warned them of repercussions.
(Edited by Amrtansh Arora)