'This raises questions over exam's credibility'

Puja Khedkar, a 2023 batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, is at the centre of a massive controversy.

- Indu Bhagat

She has been accused of allegedly misusing the disability and Other Backward Class (OBC) quota to secure a position in the IAS. If found guilty, she may be terminated from service and face criminal charges for manipulating documents.

A source told news agency PTI that all documents presented by her to secure her candidature in the civil services examination and then for selection in the service will be reexamined by a single-member probe committee of Manoj Kumar Dwivedi, Additional Secretary in the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), constituted by the Centre. Dwivedi has been asked to submit his report within two weeks.

"The officer may be terminated from the service if found guilty. She may face criminal charges also in case she is found to have misrepresented a fact or done any sort of manipulation in documents relied upon for her selection," the source added.

This recently came to light after Khedkar sparked controversy with demands such as a separate cabin and staff during her posting in Pune. She allegedly used a red beacon light on the Audi car and also got 'Maharashtra Government' written on it without permission. Following the controversy, she was transferred from Pune to Washim district before the completion of her training.