Puja Khedkar has been transferred to Washim amid the escalating row
In a startling revelation, Puja Khedkar, a 2023-batch IAS officer currently on probation, is embroiled in a major controversy over her assets and claims made during her UPSC candidature. NDTV has accessed documents indicating that Khedkar possesses properties worth ₹22 crore, raising serious questions about her eligibility as a non-creamy layer OBC candidate.
Immovable Property Disclosure Reveals Lavish Assets
According to Khedkar’s “statement of immovable property for the year 2023,” updated as of January 1, 2024, she owns five plots of land and two apartments across Maharashtra. The disclosed assets include two plots in Pune’s Mahalunge worth ₹16 crore, one in Dhadawali valued at ₹4 crore, and two more plots in Ahmednagar’s Pachunde and Nandur worth ₹25 lakh and ₹1 crore respectively. These lands amount to over 22 acres, with the Pachunde and Nandur plots being gifts from her mother.
Khedkar also owns two apartments: a 984-square-foot flat in Ahmednagar’s Savedi valued at ₹45 lakh, and a 724-square-foot apartment in Pune’s Kondhwa worth ₹75 lakh. All these assets were acquired between 2014 and 2019. Furthermore, she earns ₹42 lakh annually from these properties. RTI activist Vijay Kumbhar from Pune has disclosed that Khedkar’s father possesses assets worth ₹40 crore.
Eligibility and Disability Claims Under Scrutiny
Khedkar’s eligibility as an OBC non-creamy layer candidate is under scrutiny. In Maharashtra, to qualify for this category, the applicant’s family’s annual income must not exceed ₹8 lakh. Despite this, Khedkar, who secured an all-India rank of 841, claimed both visual and mental disabilities, yet failed to undergo the mandatory medical tests to validate these claims.
In response to these allegations, the Center has set up a single-member panel to investigate the veracity of Khedkar’s candidature claims and other details she provided. The panel is expected to submit its findings in two weeks.
Abuse of Power Allegations Add to the Controversy
The 2023-batch IAS officer, now on 24-month probation, is facing severe charges of impropriety and abuse of power. It is alleged that Khedkar was using a red-blue beacon, VIP number plates, and a “Government of Maharashtra” sticker on her private Audi sedan, which is strictly prohibited for personal vehicles.
In light of these escalating issues, Khedkar has been transferred to Washim. When approached by the media, she declined to comment, citing government rules: “Government rules do not allow me to speak anything on this matter. So sorry, I cannot speak.”
This controversy sheds light on potential discrepancies in the UPSC selection process and the need for stringent verification of candidates’ claims. The ongoing investigation will determine the next steps and possible consequences for Puja Khedkar, whose career in public service is now overshadowed by these serious allegations.
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