Pooja Khedkar, a probationary IAS officer of the 2022 batch, has been transferred to Washim in central Maharashtra. The transfer, effective immediately, comes in the wake of allegations of power misuse and inappropriate conduct. Khedkar will complete the remaining term of her training in Washim until July 30, 2025, according to an official order.
Who is Pooja Khedkar and What is the Controversy?
Pooja Khedkar, who secured an All India Rank (AIR) of 841 in the UPSC exam, has found herself at the center of a storm due to a series of controversial actions. The Maharashtra cadre officer recently made headlines for using her private Audi car equipped with a red-blue beacon light and a VIP number plate, which is a violation of protocol for a probationary officer.
Khedkar’s demands for facilities not available to IAS probationers further fueled the controversy. A report by Pune collector Suhas Diwse to the General Administration Department detailed that Khedkar insisted on being provided with a separate cabin, a car, residential quarters, and a peon, even before she officially began her duties on June 3. These demands were denied.
Adding to the controversy, Khedkar’s father, a retired administrative officer, reportedly pressured the district collector’s office to meet her demands. The IAS trainee was also accused of removing the nameplate of a senior official at the Pune collector’s office when he allowed her to use his ante-chamber as her office.
Allegations of Fraudulent Documentation
In a further twist, Khedkar has been accused of submitting fraudulent documents to clear the civil services exam. Reports indicate she used fake disability and Other Backward Class (OBC) certificates, as well as a mental illness certificate, to qualify. In April 2022, she was directed to report to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi for verification of her disability certificate but failed to do so, citing a Covid-19 infection.
The transfer of Pooja Khedkar to Washim marks a significant development in a series of troubling allegations against the young IAS officer. As she completes her training term in Washim, the scrutiny surrounding her actions underscores the importance of integrity and adherence to protocol within the civil services.