Controversial IAS Officer Puja Khedkar Takes Charge Amid Allegations

Puja Khedkar, a controversial IAS officer, began her role as an assistant collector in Washim District. Accused of misusing OBC and disability benefits and showing entitled behavior, Khedkar was transferred from Pune to avoid administrative issues. She declined to discuss the allegations, citing government rules.

Controversial IAS officer Puja Khedkar on Thursday assumed the role of assistant collector at the Washim District Collectorate in the Vidarbha region, amidst a storm of allegations that she used illegal means to clear her civil services exam.

Khedkar, 32, has faced accusations of misusing benefits under the physical disabilities category and the OBC quota to secure her position in the Indian Administrative Services. She was transferred from Pune to Washim on Monday due to allegations of bullying and entitled behavior.

“I am happy to join duty at the Washim District Collectorate and am looking forward to working here,” said the probationary officer from the 2022 IAS batch. When asked about the allegations, Khedkar responded, “I am not authorized to speak on the issue. Government rules don’t allow me to speak on this.”

During her tenure in Pune, Khedkar was known for using a swanky Audi car with a beacon, but on Thursday, she was seen alighting from a more modest Bolero car provided by the district administration.

Pune police officials who went to inspect the Audi over beacon violations found the gates of Khedkar’s bungalow locked. A Marathi news channel reported her mother trying to shoo away their camera crew.

The transfer to Washim came after Pune district collector Suhas Diwase requested her reassignment to avoid “administrative complications,” citing aggressive treatment of junior staff, illegal occupation of an ante-chamber, and other violations.

“Probationer Puja Khedkar has joined the district collector’s office for training as per a Maharashtra State government order. She will be learning from various government departments during her training period,” said Washim district collector Buveneswari S.

A 2023 batch IAS officer, Khedkar has been accused of misusing benefits under the disabilities category and OBC quota. An official noted that the Prime Minister’s Office has requested a report on the matter from the Pune collector.