• By Mayukh Debnath
  • Mon, 15 Jul 2024 12:23 PM (IST)
  • Source:ANI
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Pooja Khedkar IAS News: The parents of controversial trainee IAS officer Pooja Khedkar are absconding as the police try to establish contact with them in connection with a case against her mother, Manorama Khedkar, over the alleged misuse of a licensed firearm, officials informed. A case was registered against Manorama after a video surfaced last week showing her brandishing a gun amid a heated exchange with a group of farmers.

"The accused are on the run, we are trying to contact them but they are not reachable as their phones are switched off. We have also tried to reach their residence but they are not available, Pune Rural SP Pankaj Deshmukh said on Monday. The official added, "Several teams, including officials from the local crime branch and local police stations, are searching for them in Pune and nearby places where they have some farmhouses and other residences. If found, we will question them and take action accordingly."

On Sunday, a show-cause notice issued to Manorama was pasted outside her residence after no one turned up to receive it. The notice, issued by Pune Commissioner of Police Amitesh Kumar, asked her to submit her response within 19 days as to why her gun licence should not be cancelled.

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The controversy surrounding Pooja Khedkar, a Maharashtra cadre trainee IAS officer, has intensified with fresh allegations against her family members. Pooja was recently transferred from the district collectorate in Pune to the one in Washim following the submission of a report by Pune District Collector Dr Suhas Diwase to the Chief Secretary.

In his report, Diwase said that Pooja sought a separate cabin, a residential quarter, a car, and a peon before even assuming charge as a probationary IAS. Besides her conduct at the Pune district collectorate, there are also allegations that Khedkar submitted fake certificates to claim concessions meant for OBC non-creamy layer and visually impaired candidates in the civil services examination.

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The Centre has formed a single-member panel, comprising an additional secretary-rank officer, to 'verify the candidature' of the 2023-batch IAS officer. Reports suggest that Pooja secured an All India Rank (AIR) of 841 in the UPSC exam.

(With inputs from agencies)