Maharashtra Halts Training for Controversial IAS Trainee Puja Khedkar

On Tuesday, the Maharashtra Government ordered trainee Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Puja Khedkar to return to the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) in Mussoorie. The directive, issued by Additional Chief Secretary Nitin Gadre, states that Khedkar’s district training program has been put on hold, and she must report back to the academy by July 23, 2024, at the latest.

Allegations and Controversies

Puja Khedkar recently attracted attention following allegations of demanding a separate office and an official car, as well as unauthorized use of a beacon in her private car. Earlier this month, Pune District Collector Suhas Diwase submitted a report to the state government detailing “objectionable behavior” by Khedkar and her father.

Academic and Career Background

Khedkar completed her MBBS and made several attempts at the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) exams, securing a position in the Indian Revenue Service (IRS) in 2019. However, she did not join due to “technical issues in her OBC allocation.” In 2021, she secured the 821st rank in the Civil Services Examination but later faced a legal battle against the UPSC in the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) for not presenting herself for a medical examination to confirm her disability claim.

Puja Khedkar’s journey from medicine to the IAS, marred by controversies and legal disputes, continues to unfold as she heads back to the academy for further necessary action.