Probationary Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Pooja Khedkar, in the eye of a storm for seeking special privileges and “faking” certificates, joined the Washim district administration on Thursday to complete her training amid a demand for an in-depth probe into the circumstances of her recruitment.
Meanwhile, the Union government said on Thursday that a senior officer, of the rank of Additional Secretary to Government of India, will verify the claims and other details of Ms. Khedkar and submit a report within two weeks.
A 2023-batch IAS officer, Ms. Khedkar made news for seeking special privileges including a separate office, house, car, and staff (including a constable) before taking charge as Assistant Collector.
These perks are not given to trainee officers and there were allegations that her father, a retired IAS officer, used his influence to get her demands fulfilled.
She is said to have used a ‘Government of Maharashtra’ sticker and a red-blue beacon on her private luxury car while on probation in Pune
Hailing from a family of bureaucrats, it also emerged that she allegedly faked mental illness to secure a disability certificate and appeared for the UPSC exam under the visually impaired category.
The allegations led to a probe and a report was submitted by Pune District Collector Suhas Diwase to the General Administration Department (GAD), which resulted in Ms. Khedkar’s transfer to Washim district as a “supernumerary assistant collector” till July 30, 2025.
Speaking to reporters in Washim before joining duty, Ms. Khedkar said, “ I am looking forward to working here… I am not authorised to comment on the issue as per government rules.”
Washim District Collector Buveneswari S. said, “The GAD has a schedule for probationary IAS officers. We are ready to give training to her under that schedule.”
Besides faking disability, Ms. Khedkar is also alleged to have furnished an Other Backward Class (OBC) certificate ahead of the civil services exam.
She has skipped her medical examination six times despite being asked to report at AIIMS in Delhi for verification of her disability certificate.
Meanwhile, demanding a probe into her recruitment, Pune-based RTI activist Vijay Kumbhar said in the OBC categorythe annual parental income limit is ₹8 lakh. Ms. Khedkar’s father, Deelip Khedkar, had unsuccessfully contested the Lok Sabha election from the Ahmednagar constituency as a candidate of the Prakash Ambedkar-led Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi and his election affidavit puts his wealth around ₹40 crore.
Mr. Kumbhar further alleged that Ms. Khedkar herself owned property worth ₹17 crore. The activist said that no trainee IAS officer had managed to secure a posting in his or her home town until now.
(With inputs from Vijaita Singh)