NEW DELHI: A private luxury car used by trainee IAS Officer Puja Khedkar has been taken to the Chaturshrangi Police Station in Pune for examination and document verification on Sunday.
Khedkar, part of the 2023 batch of the Maharashtra cadre, drew attention for using her personal Audi car with a red-blue beacon light and a VIP number plate and for requesting facilities not typically granted to probationary officers.
The car, delivered by a driver from Khedkar’s family, is currently held at the traffic division of the Chaturshrangi Police Station.
Authorities have removed the beacon and the ‘Maharashtra Administration’ text from the vehicle.
Puja, who attained an All India Rank (AIR) of 841 in the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) exam, is facing accusations of submitting fraudulent documents to clear the civil services exam.
Allegations include the submission of fake disability and Other Backward Class (OBC) certificates, and a certificate for mental illness.
Although she was asked in April 2022 to have her disability certificate verified at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi, she did not comply, citing a COVID-19 infection.
The central government has responded to the controversy by establishing a single-member committee to investigate Khedkar’s claims and actions.
“The Ministry of Personnel announced in a statement that the committee is chaired by a senior officer of the rank of Additional Secretary under the Central Government and that it will submit its report in two weeks.”
Khedkar has declined to comment on the unfolding situation, citing a lack of authorization to speak on the issue. “Khedkar, meanwhile, refused to comment on the matter, stating that she was not authorised to speak on the issue.”
This incident has raised significant questions about the integrity of the process and the conduct expected of civil servants, particularly those in training.
The findings of the committee’s investigation are keenly awaited.