IAS Pooja Khedkar Controversy: Examining Allegations and Investigations of a Trainee IAS Officer
IAS Pooja Khedkar is a 2023-batch IAS officer from Maharashtra who has recently been surrounded by several controversies. Here are the key points about her and the issues:
Background
- Family Background: Pooja Khedkar hails from a family of bureaucrats and politicians in Pathardi tehsil, Ahmednagar district, Maharashtra. Her father, Diliprao Khedkar, is a retired officer from the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board and contested the 2024 Lok Sabha elections as a Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) candidate. Her mother is the sarpanch of Bhalgaon, their native village.
- UPSC Rank: She secured an all-India rank of 841 in the UPSC exam and became an IAS officer in 2023.
Controversies
- Demand for Special Privileges:
- Pooja Khedkar has been accused of demanding a separate office, an official car, and unauthorized use of a beacon on her private car.
- Moreover, These demands led to complaints and a report from Pune District Collector Suhas Diwase about her and her father’s “objectionable behavior.”
- Disability Claim:
- Pooja’s claim of suffering from blindness and mental illness, which qualified her for benefits under the Persons with Benchmark Disabilities category, has been questionable.
- The UPSC asked her to undergo a medical examination at AIIMS, New Delhi, which she postponed and later submitted an MRI report from a private facility that was initially decline by the UPSC.
- The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) rule against her disability claim, but her MRI certificate was later accepted, confirming her appointment as an IAS officer.
- Fake OBC Certificate Allegations:
- Initially, Activists have challenged her Other Backward Classes (non-creamy layer) status, arguing that she comes from a well-to-do family.
- Though, Activist Vijay Kumbhar highlighted her father’s assets worth ₹40 crore, which exceeds the income limit for the non-creamy layer category.
Current Status of IAS Pooja Khedkar
- Training: IAS Pooja Khedkar has joined the Washim district administration in Maharashtra for her training.
- Investigation: There are ongoing demands for an in-depth investigation into the circumstances of her recruitment and conduct.
However, These controversies have brought significant scrutiny to IAS Pooja Khedkar’s career. It raised questions about the integrity of her credentials and claims.
Follow Us on Social Media