Pune: Centre Launches Inquiry into Alleged Quota Fraud by IAS Trainee Puja Khedkar

New Delhi, 11th July 2024: The central government has established a committee to scrutinize the “candidature claims and other details” submitted by trainee IAS officer Puja Khedkar, who faces accusations of misusing disability and OBC quotas to secure her position.

The 2023-batch IAS officer is embroiled in allegations of impropriety and misuse of her bureaucratic position. A single-member committee, chaired by a senior officer at the rank of Additional Secretary to the Government of India, has been appointed to investigate these claims. The committee is expected to submit its report within two weeks.

“The central government has constituted a single-member committee, chaired by a senior officer of the rank of Additional Secretary to the Government of India, to verify the candidature claims and other details of Puja Manorma Dilip Khedkar, a candidate of the Civil Services Examination-2022 and earlier CSEs. The committee will submit its report in two weeks,” stated the Department of Personnel and Training.

Accusations against Khedkar include using a red-blue beacon, VIP number plates, and a “Government of Maharashtra” sticker on her privately-owned Audi sedan. Amidst the growing controversy, Khedkar has been transferred to Washim.

“Government rules do not allow me to speak on this matter. So sorry, I cannot comment,” Khedkar told the media this morning.

Further allegations suggest that she falsely claimed to be visually and mentally impaired to receive concessions, bypassing the mandatory medical test for confirmation. RTI activist Vijay Kumbhar also questioned Khedkar’s appointment, alleging that she does not qualify for the OBC non-creamy layer, given her family’s substantial assets.

“As per the rules, only those who fall under the OBC non-creamy layer category have parents with an annual income under ₹8 lakh. However, her family’s income is reported to be ₹40 crore. Her parents contested recent Lok Sabha polls, and all property details are in the affidavit,” Kumbhar stated.

“This raises questions about how Puja Khedkar was categorized under the OBC non-creamy layer. A detailed investigation is necessary to determine the legitimacy of her appointment as an IAS officer in that category,” he added.

The committee’s findings will be crucial in determining the next steps in this high-profile case.