Trainee IAS officer Puja Khedkar, who has hit headlines over her inappropriate demands, had allegedly pressured a DCP to release one of her relatives arrested in a theft case, PTI reported. The incident happened on May 18, before the controversy over her conduct and selection emerged.

On May 18, the 32-year-old Khedkar allegedly called Navi Mumbai's Deputy Commissioner of Police Vivek Pansare and urged him to release a transporter, Ishwar Uttarwade, arrested in a theft case.

Uttarwade was arrested by Panvel police this year. Khedkar allegedly told the DCP that the man was innocent and that the charges against him were minor, PTI reported quoting an official.

While the caller identified herself as Khedkar, police said they were not sure if the person was indeed the IAS officer or an impostor.

However, the DCP did not act and Uttarwade is still in judicial custody.

Following the incident, the Navi Mumbai police reported the matter to the Pune collector's office and the home department. The home department then asked DCP Pansare to send a report on the alleged phone call to Chief Secretary Sujata Saunik.

Puja Khedkar, a 2023-batch IAS officer of the Maharashtra cadre, was recently transferred from Pune to Washim district over complaints about her inappropriate conduct and disciplinary issues during her probation period.

She allegedly made demands for a separate office, an official car and unauthorised use of a beacon and insignia on her private Audi car. As per rules, a trainee is not provided with such amenities and is required to be appointed as a gazetted officer first.

Khedkar also occupied the ante-chamber of additional collector Ajay More when he was away and put up a board with her name.

Apart from her conduct, there are also allegations that she misused the disability provision and Other Backward Class (OBC) quota to become an IAS officer.

The Centre has constituted a single-member panel to probe the allegations.

Source: India Today