IAS Officer Puja Khedkar's Father Was Suspended Twice During His Tenure In Maharashtra Govt. Here's Why

At least 300 small businessmen complained against Dilip Khedkar in 2015, accusing him of causing "unnecessary trouble" and extortion

The Khedkars' assets came under scanner after a probe was launched against 34-year-old Puja Khedkar for alleged misuse of power (Image: X)

Source : તસવીર સોશિયલ મીડિયા

Dilip Khedkar, the father of controversial trainee IAS officer Puja Khedkar, was suspended twice during his tenure as a government officer. A retired Maharastra government employee, Dilip Khedkar reportedly faced suspension in 2018 and 2020, on charges of corruption. 

He was first suspended in 2018, while he was stationed at the Kolhapur regional office, for allegedly demanding bribes from local businesses to reinstate essential services like electricity and water supply.

The action came after the local sawmill and timber merchants association filed a police complaint against him, alleging he had demanded bribes ranging from Rs 25,000 to Rs 50,000 to restore their power and water supplies.

In 2020, Dilip Khedkar was reportedly again suspended after multiple complaints against him. An inquiry was also launched against him on the occasion. He was suspended under Rule 3(1) of the Maharashtra Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1979 and sub-section 1(a) of Rule No. 4 of the Maharashtra Civil Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1979, and the Maharashtra Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1983.

Further, at least 300 small businessmen complained against Dilip Khedkar in 2015, accusing him of causing "unnecessary trouble" and extortion. He 2019, he was again accused of demanding Rs 20 lakh from a company. 

Inquiry Against Dilip Khedkar

The Khedkars' assets came under scanner after a probe was launched against 34-year-old Puja Khedkar for alleged misuse of power. An open inquiry against Dilip Khedkar is currently underway at the Ahmednagar unit by Nashik Anti-Corruption Bureau. Pune unit of the anti-graft agency has also received a complaint seeking an open inquiry against him.

As there is already an inquiry underway by the Anti-Corruption Bureau's Nashik division against him into the alleged disproportionate assets, the Pune unit of the anti-graft agency has sought directions from the ACB headquarters.

The former Maharashtra government employee is untraceable since police registered an FIR against him and his wife Manorama Khedka over a video purportedly showing Manorama threatening some farmers with a gun following a land dispute in Mulshi tehsil of Pune district. Manorama was arrested by Maharashtra police earlier on Thursday. 

The Paud police in Pune rural have booked the Khedkar couple and five others under the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) sections, including 323 (dishonest or fraudulent removal or concealment of property).         

A two-minute video shows Manorama Khedkar wielding a pistol, accompanied by her security guards, engaged in a heated argument with some persons in Dhadwali village.      

Puja Khedkhar Case  

Puja Khedkar, the 2023-batch IAS officer, is under scrutiny for her claims regarding disability and Other Backward Class (OBC) certificates in her Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) candidature, as well as her conduct during her tenure at the Pune collector's office.         

Amid the row, the government on Tuesday put on hold the 'district training program' of Khedkar, who was earlier transferred to Washim as a supernumerary assistant collector from Pune, as she was summoned back to the Mussoorie-based Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration for necessary action.