Controversy Erupts Over Pune IAS Officer’s Address and Business Ties

Puja Khedkar, a probationary IAS officer in Pune, is facing scrutiny over discrepancies in her application for a disability certificate, specifically concerning her residential address linked to Thermoverita Engineering Pvt Ltd, a defunct company. According to municipal records, Khedkar submitted a ration card indicating Thermoverita as her residential address, despite no family ties to the company’s ownership or board. The land on which Thermoverita was located is owned by Khedkar’s mother, Manorama Khedkar, and is classified as commercial property by the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation. Importantly, there is no residential structure on this property.

Further investigation revealed errors in the ration card, stating ‘plot’ number 53 instead of the correct ‘gat’ number 53, which corresponds to the company’s land. Additionally, property tax amounting to approximately Rs 2.8 lakh has reportedly gone unpaid for the past three years. Despite Thermoverita ceasing operations in 2019, it retains registration for Khedkar’s Audi, equipped with government beacon and Maharashtra government stickers.

Authorities emphasize the mandatory requirement of submitting accurate local address proof for disability certificate applications, yet hospital officials reportedly do not verify addresses provided by applicants. Documents from the Union ministry of corporate affairs confirm Thermoverita’s inactive status since 2019, raising questions about the legitimacy of Khedkar’s residential claim tied to the company.