Shiv Sena MP Milind Deora on Thursday urged the Maharashtra chief secretary to hold an ‘impartial' probe into allegations against a probationary IAS officer, accused of demanding a private cabin and staff, despite only being a trainee.
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Earlier this week, Puja Khedkar, a 2022-batch IAS officer who was posted in Pune, was transferred to Washim, where she will complete the remaining term of her training, serving as a ‘supernumerary assistant collector’ till July 30, 2025.
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“The allegations against #IAS officer Puja Khedkar are a serious reputational hazard to the service. Are you in government to serve or due to a sense of entitlement?” Deora posted on X (formerly Twitter).
“I urge Maharashtra's Chief Secretary to conduct a comprehensive & impartial investigation into these allegations without delay. Ensuring justice & preserving trust in our administrative service is crucial,” he added.
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{{/usCountry}}“I urge Maharashtra's Chief Secretary to conduct a comprehensive & impartial investigation into these allegations without delay. Ensuring justice & preserving trust in our administrative service is crucial,” he added.
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{{/usCountry}}The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), which recruits officers to the All India Services, is known for producing ‘high-caliber officers', the Rajya Sabha member further stated, adding that people without ’merit and ethics' are not ‘fit to hold important public offices.’
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Khedkar is also under scrutiny for having ‘lied’ about suffering ‘visual and mental disabilities’ to secure a posting despite a relatively low qualifying score. The 32-year-old passed her UPSC exam under the ‘Visually Impaired Category’ and submitted a certificate claiming ‘mental illness.’ With concessions granted thanks to the certificate, she was elevated in the IAS selection merit list despite an all-India rank of 821.
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“I cannot comment on the questions as rules do not allow me to speak,” she said after joining duty in Washim.
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The central government has now formed a panel to look into the claims against her candidature.