The Navi Mumbai police reported to the Maharashtra government that probationary IAS officer Puja Khedkar allegedly attempted to pressure a DCP-rank officer to release a man held in a theft case. The incident occurred on May 18 at Panvel police station where Khedkar reportedly phoned Deputy Commissioner of Police Vivek Pansare and urged him to release a transporter, Ishwar Uttarwade, who was arrested in a theft case.
Khedkar claimed that Uttarwade was innocent and that the charges against him were minor. Although Khedkar identified herself during the phone call with Pansare, the DCP was uncertain whether the caller was indeed an IAS officer or an imposter. The Navi Mumbai police did not act on the call, and Uttarwade remains in judicial custody for the alleged crime.
Khedkar came under scrutiny when she was transferred from Pune to Washim district before completing her training, following controversies, including demands for a separate cabin and staff. Upon learning of Khedkar’s behavior, the Navi Mumbai police communicated with the Pune collector’s office and a senior home department employee.
On the advice of the home department official, DCP Pansare submitted a two-page report on the alleged phone call to Chief Secretary Sujata Saunik, who holds the additional charge of the home department, through Navi Mumbai Police Commissioner Milind Bharambe. Furthermore, there are allegations that Khedkar misused the disability provision and Other Backward Class quota to secure a position in the elite Indian Administrative Services (IAS).
In response, the Centre has constituted a single-member committee to verify the candidature of the 2023-batch IAS officer of the Maharashtra cadre. The probe will be conducted by an additional secretary-rank officer to verify the claims concerning Khedkar’s candidature and other related details.