Probationary IAS Officer Puja Khedkar Faces Termination Over Alleged Power Misuse

Probationary IAS officer Puja Khedkar is under investigation for alleged misuse of power and privileges. A single-member committee will re-examine her documents. If found guilty, she may face termination and criminal charges. The scrutiny involves her misuse of the disability and OBC quota. The reporting committee has two weeks to submit findings.

Probationary IAS officer Puja Khedkar, embroiled in controversy for alleged power misuse, may face termination if found guilty, sources revealed on Friday.

A single-member committee will re-examine documents she provided to secure her civil services candidature. The investigation, initiated by the Centre on Thursday, has commenced.

Khedkar, accused of leveraging the disability and OBC quota to gain a position in the IAS, currently serves in Maharashtra. The committee, led by Manoj Kumar Dwivedi, must submit its report within two weeks. Amid scrutiny, she has assumed a new role as assistant collector in Washim, following allegations of aggressive conduct and misuse of a red beacon on a luxury car. Her alleged actions in Pune led the collector to request her transfer to avoid administrative issues.