Puja Khedkar: Did She Actually Think She Will Get Away With All This?
By A Special Correspondent
First publised on 2024-07-13 04:46:24
About the Author
How often have we seen on
the roads that motorbike riders who do not wear helmets are the ones who break
further traffic rules like jumping a red light or entering one-way streets? The
point is that if someone breaks one rule, they are likely to break more for it
becomes a habit with them. Trainee IAS officer Puja Khedkar falls in the same
category. She allegedly submitted false disability certificates and when she
was asked to appear before a medical board for examination, cited Covid
restrictions to avoid appearing multiple times. She claims to be from the
non-creamy layer of OBC but her father has assets worth Rs 40cr (as disclosed
in his election affidavit before the Election Commission).
All this might not have
ever come out if Khedkar did not live a flashy life and did not make
unnecessary and 'VIP' demands before and after joining her duty. She is alleged to have
gone around in a private Audi car with government of Maharashtra plates and a
beacon. She is alleged to have demanded a particular office space (not
commensurate with her trainee status) and many other 'special privileges'. Her
father, a former state government officer, is alleged to have helped her by
pulling strings. He allegedly even indulged in 'objectionable conduct' at his
daughter's workplace for which he will face an inquiry. An FIR has also been
lodged against her parents after a video surfaced on social media in which her
mother was seen threatening local farmers in Dhadwali village near Pune.
Why do people like
Khedkar think they are 'privileged'? How do they think that they will get away
with all their shenanigans in this age and time? Since Khedkar had passed the grueling
civil services examination, she must have been aware of the rules for
probationary officers. It was either stupidity, superiority complex or a false
sense of security that made her do what she did. Whatever the reason, she is in
deep trouble now and will suffer the consequences of her actions. All her
claims will be examined with a fine toothcomb by the single-member Committee, chaired by a senior
officer of the rank of Additional Secretary to Government of India, constituted
by the Central government. She will almost certainly be dismissed and penalised
if even one of her claims is found to be untrue.
