Maharashtra govt sends report on IAS trainee Puja Khedkar to DoPT amid fake certificate row

New Delhi: After a week-long investigation, the State Government's General Administrative Department (GAD), led by Additional Chief Secretary Nitin Gadre, has submitted a comprehensive report on IAS probationer Puja Khedkar to the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) of the Union Government. This report also goes to the Centre's one-member committee headed by Additional Secretary Manoj Diwedi, which is currently investigating the case.

Verification of  claims

The report by Nitin Gadre's team scrutinized several claims made by Puja Khedkar before joining the civil services. Key among these were discrepancies related to medical and income certificates used to secure benefits under the OBC (Other Backward Classes) and PwBD (Persons with Benchmark Disability) quotas. Investigations revealed inconsistencies regarding her parents' marital status and her family's financial background, including a significant disparity between her father's declared assets and her stated family income.

Behavioral issues and official conduct

Apart from document scrutiny, the report highlighted issues of misconduct during Khedkar's tenure at the Pune collectorate. Reports from Pune Divisional Commissioner Chandrakant Pulkundwar noted her failure to complete certain training modules and instances of using her private vehicle for official purposes. Moreover, there were incidents involving the unauthorized use of official insignia on her vehicle and disputes with senior officers over office space.

Recommendations and further inquiry

Following additional inquiries by Nashik Divisional Commissioner Praveen Gedam, concerns were raised regarding the authenticity of Khedkar's disability certificate obtained from Ahmednagar District Hospital. Gedam has recommended an independent investigation into this matter, suggesting discrepancies that require further clarification.

Potential ramifications

Officials speculate that if the central government accepts findings of misuse of privileges for civil service selection, Puja Khedkar may face removal from the Indian Administrative Service (IAS).