Trainee IAS officer Pooja Khedkar is currently in the news for a series of controversies related to her involvement in abuse of authority and allegations of forging reservation quota-related documents. If found guilty, she may face dismissal from service as well as criminal proceedings for forgery.
On Thursday, the Centre appointed a single-member panel to investigate Khedkar’s candidature paperwork and other allegations.
If she is guilty, the officer may be discharged from service. She may also face criminal charges if she has falsified documents used in her selection, according to a source.
Pooja Khedkar was initially assigned as an assistant collector in Pune. Kedhkar rose to prominence after allegations of exploiting her official powers and privileges surfaced. Khedkar allegedly used a red-blue beacon and a Maharashtra government board on her own Audi car, in contravention of the law. Pune police are looking into the situation, officials said on Friday.
There is also an accusation against Khedkar of utilizing Additional Collector Ajay More’s office without permission. She allegedly removed workplace furniture without permission and requested illegal privileges.
The probationary IAS officer from the 2023 batch has allegedly exploited the disability quota to pass the Union Public Service Commission exam. She has also falsified her economic status. The uproar escalated after the news of her father’s involvement in the deed. Khedkar’s father, Dilip Khedkar, who recently ran in the Lok Sabha elections, claimed assets worth Rs 40 crore in his affidavit. However, Pooja was able to gain a seat in the OBC non-creamy layer category during the examinations.
There is also an accusation against Dilip Khedkar of pressuring Pune authorities to meet his daughter’s wishes. In a separate row, Pooja’s mother, Manorama Khedkar, is shown on an old video threatening a group of guys with a gun. An FIR has been filed in the case, and the police will investigate if she held a handgun license.