An official said on Friday that Navi Mumbai police has informed the Maharashtra government that controversial probationary IAS officer Puja Khedkar allegedly attempted to force a DCP-rank officer to release a man detained in a theft case.
“The May 18 incident took place at Panvel police station when Ms. Khedkar reportedly called DCP Vivek Pansare urging him to let go of an apprehended transporter, Ishwar Uttarwade, in a theft case,” he added.
According to the official, Khedkar apparently told the DCP that Uttarwade was innocent and his charges were petty.
The caller who spoke with Mr. Pansare claiming herself as Ms. Khedkar was not identified by the DCP if she was indeed an IAS officer or an imposter, according to him.
Mr. Uttarwade is still in judicial custody for what he has allegedly done since Navi Mumbai police did not act upon such call, he noted.
In another development Ms. Khedkar’s name created sensation after she was transferred from Pune to Washim district before completing her training because of making some controversies like asking for separate cabin and staffs.
It is said that after knowing about this misbehavior of the 32-year-old probationary IAS officer, Navi Mumbai police contacted with a senior home department employee and Pune collector’s office as stated by the official.
He said therefore following advice from home department official, DCP Pansare sent a two page report on alleged phone call to Navi Mumbai Police Commissioner Milind Bharambe through Chief Secretary Sujata Saunik who also holds additional charge of Home Department
Even though as alleged by others she also misused disability provision as well as OBC quota with respect to securing a seat among Indian Administrative Services (IAS) elite at Pune Collector’s Office.
Additionally on Thursday, Centre formed one member committee “to verify candidature” of Maharashtra cadre 2023-batch IAS officer.
The Centre, in a statement, said that such investigation would be carried out by an additional secretary-rank officer to establish the claims about Khedkar’s eligibility and other details.
