Mumbai: The IAS officer who faced action for installing a beacon light on a private car and taking over the collector's chamber is now facing allegations of using fake certificates. 

Pune Assistant Collector Dr Puja Khedkar has been accused of fabricating a fake medical certificate and submitting a fake caste certificate to enter the service.

Puja Khedkar, from the 2022 batch of IAS officers, was recently transferred from Pune to Washim. She appeared for the UPSC exams claiming to be visually impaired and as an OBC category candidate. Reports indicate that after her IAS selection, she was called for a medical examination but did not attend, citing various reasons.

She was instructed to appear for a medical examination at Delhi AIIMS with a certificate proving her differently-abled status. However, she did not appear for the examination, citing COVID-19 as the reason in April 2022. Subsequently, Puja was asked to appear five more times but refused each time, citing different reasons. Eventually, she submitted a fake medical verification report from a private hospital and entered the service.

The UPSC informed the Central Administrative Tribunal of doubts regarding the certificates submitted by Puja. It is also alleged that she used political influence to secure her position.

Further allegations claim that Puja, who wrote the exam under the OBC category, committed more irregularities. The annual income limit for the OBC creamy layer certificate is Rs 8 lakhs, but Puja's father, Dilip Khedkar, is a retired senior officer from Maharashtra government service with an annual income previously reported as Rs 49 lakh and total assets above Rs 100 crore.

Controversies soon after joining the service

During her probation period as Assistant Collector in Pune, Puja demanded luxurious facilities and usurped the collector's chamber. She used a private luxury car with an illegally installed beacon light and a Maharashtra government VIP number plate. Following this controversy, the Pune Collector wrote to the Chief Secretary, resulting in Puja's transfer to Washim.

A new controversy has arisen over Puja's initial appointment in Pune. It is alleged that political influence was behind her appointment, as new IAS officers are typically not posted in their home districts first.