Himalaya Harbinger, Rudrapur Bureau
Controversial Indian Administrative Services (IAS) probationer Puja Khedkar’s district training has been put on hold, the Maharashtra government said on Tuesday.
Khedkar has been relieved from her District Training Programme after Mussoorie-based Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) recalled her for “further necessary action” by putting her district training programme on hold, as stated in the letter by Maharashtra additional chief secretary Nitin Gadre.
Khedkar, a Maharashtra cadre officer, is accused of using fraudulent means to clear her UPSC Civil Services Examination, including allegedly misrepresenting herself under the physical disabilities and OBC categories, and misusing power and privileges during her posting in Pune.
The Pune Police has said that it will carry out a probe into the authenticity of medical certificates submitted by her.
Pune police will conduct an inquiry into the authenticity of medical certificates submitted by probationary IAS officer Puja Khedkar, accused of misrepresenting herself under the physical disabilities category, an official said on Tuesday
We have received a letter from the Office of the Commissioner For Persons With Disabilities. They have asked us to check the authenticity of certificates submitted by Puja Khedkar. We will verify the facts about these certificates, from where they were obtained, which doctor or hospitals certified them will also be scanned,” a senior police official told PTI.
Last week, the Centre had set up a single-member panel to verify Khedkar’s candidature and submit the report in two weeks.
On Monday, the under-fire trainee IAS officer had said that “truth will prevail” in the probe against her. She alleged a media trail against her, saying, “My job here (in Washim) as a probationer is to work and learn and that is what I am doing. I cannot make any comments on that. The experts of the government (committee) will decide. Neither I nor you (media) or the public can decide.”
