Pune: Maharashtra State Government Additional Chief Secretary Nitin Gadre on Tuesday (July 16) issued relieving orders for IAS Puja Khedkar stating that her District Training Program has been put on hold by Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), Mussoorie, and she has been recalled to the academy before July 23, 2024.
Puja Khedkar has been instructed to join the LBSNAA at the earliest but not later than July 23, 2024 under any circumstances. The orders were issued after the LBSNAA took cognizance of Government of Maharashtra report dated July 11, 2024 regarding the conduct of Puja Khedkar during her district training at Pune.
LBSNAA has said in its letter that district training of probationer Puja Khedkar, IAS-2023 batch be kept on hold and she should be immediately recalled at the Academy for "further necessary action".
Following the training termination orders, Khedkar immediately moved to a government guest house from the Washim District Collector's office. The subsequent actions against Khedkar and her family's involvement in other matters remain to be seen.
Khedkar was previously transferred from Pune to Washim due to several misconduct allegations, including pressuring other officers, occupying a senior’s office, and using a private car with a red beacon.
Additionally, it was revealed she had secured her position with a fake OBC certificate despite owning assets worth crores and a fake disability certificate.
In response, Khedkar claimed innocence till proven guilty and alleged a media trial being conducted against her. The DoPT has now terminated her training period and formed a committee to further investigate her actions.
