Puja Khedkar’s Audi seized for illegal beacon use, owes Rs 27,000 in fines for traffic violation

New Delhi: Pune police confiscated an Audi used by IAS officer Puja Khedkar on Sunday for allegedly having an unauthorized red beacon installed. The vehicle also had multiple traffic violations amounting to Rs 27,000 in fines. The challans were registered at tthe Pune Regional Transport Office (RTO), which had previously issued a notice to the private company registered as its owner.

Khedkar's Audi seized

The Audi was brought to the Chaturshringi police station by its driver, where authorities removed the illegal red beacon and a Maharashtra government sticker. The vehicle’s documents are currently under examination. The registration address is linked to a Shivane village under Haveli taluka.

Audi car Used By Trainee IAS Officer #PujaKhedkar has been submitted by there driver to Pune police,it’s the same Audi Car on which controversial IAS Khedkar, had installed red &blue beacon & Maha Govt insignia though it was brought with out red beacon &Maha govt Insignia. pic.twitter.com/P4fYmhQc5y

— Pramod Kala Ramkumar Sharma (@ipramodsharma) July 14, 2024

Controversy and Backlash

Puja Khedkar, 34, has been involved in a controversy, accused of securing her IAS position by falsely claiming to be visually challenged and misusing the Other Backward Class (OBC) quota. The case gained traction when she was found using a red beacon and government stickers on her Audi without authorization. Reports suggest Khedkar leveraged her position to gain undue benefits, including occupying a senior’s office.

Actions on Puja Khedkar

Amidst the uproar, Khedkar was transferred from Pune to Washim district before completing her training. A senior police official commented, “A notice was issued on Thursday against the unauthorized use of a beacon and name sign on the private sedan Khedkar had been using. The car has now been confiscated, its documents will be checked, and we are probing the matter further.”

Audi's traffic violations

The Audi, registered at the Pune RTO on June 27, 2012, had accumulated 21 challans totaling Rs 27,000 for various traffic violations. Officials have confirmed that these fines have been settled.

Regulations on beacon use

Under section 108 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules (CMVR) 1989, state governments can permit the use of red or amber beacon lights on official vehicles for VIPs, VVIPs, and government officials. Following Supreme Court directives, the state government revised the list of authorized positions in December 2013 and updated it in 2014. The transport commissioner’s office subsequently instructed departments to remove beacons from vehicles of officials no longer entitled to use them.

Notice issued to Khedkar’s mother

Additionally, Pune police issued a notice to Puja Khedkar’s mother, Manorama Khedkar, who has not responded to calls and was not found at her residence. The police are searching for her following a video that allegedly shows her threatening individuals with a gun over a land dispute in Maharashtra.