IAS probationer Puja Khedkar’s follies land her parents in trouble, father faces disproportionate assets probe
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The follies of his IAS probationer daughter Puja Khedkar have landed retired Maharashtra government officer Dilip Khedkar in trouble as he is currently on the run following multiple charges of corruption and misconduct.
Dilip Khedkar, it has come to light, was suspended twice during his career and is now facing a fresh investigation by the Pune Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) after a complaint was lodged regarding his disproportionate assets.
Suspended in 2018 and 2020, he has come under scrutiny again when a video of his wife Manorama Khedkar threatening workers with a gun at a Pune farm went viral. Following this incident, a case was registered against both Dilip and Manorama. The ACB is now probing allegations that Dilip’s assets far exceed his known sources of income.
Dilip is learnt to have faced numerous complaints throughout his career. In 2015, 300 small businessmen accused him of extortion and causing unnecessary trouble. In 2018, while serving as the Regional Officer in Kolhapur, the local saw mill and timber merchants association filed a police complaint alleging that he demanded bribes ranging from Rs 25,000 to Rs 50,000 to restore their power and water supplies.
Further accusations surfaced in 2019 when a complaint alleged that Dilip had demanded Rs 20 lakh from a company. Records indicate that he was absent from his duties for six to seven months without permission on one occasion. His suspension in 2020 was under Rule 3(1) of the Maharashtra Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1979, and Rule No. 4 of the Maharashtra Civil Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1979, in addition to the Maharashtra Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1983.
The ongoing investigation has also brought attention to the Dilip’s assets, raising questions about the legitimacy of the wealth accumulated. His assets, including land, cars and companies, have been flagged in an ACB complaint. After being questioned for three days, both he and his wife became unreachable, prompting a police search. His wife, however, has been arrested now.
The controversy started after Puja Khedkar, who was recently selected as an IAS officer, allegedly demanded unauthorised perks during probation in Pune. A related complaint was lodged by Pune District Collector Suhas Diwase to Maharashtra Chief Secretary Sujata Saunik, questioning Puja’s demands.
It was revealed that Puja claimed reservation as a person with a disability and an OBC candidate but failed to undergo a mandatory medical check-up to verify her disability.
