The Centre on Thursday formed a one-member panel to examine the controversy involving trainee IAS officer Puja Khedkar who was transferred earlier this week over alleged misuse of power and property.
An additional secretary in the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) will probe the issue, reports said, quoting government sources.
The Pune Police said they will also launch an investigation into the unauthorised use of a red-blue beacon light and 'Maharashtra Government' sticker on the private Audi car of Khedkar.
A police team on Thursday visited Khedkar's bungalow in Pashan area of Pune to inspect the vehicle, but the gates of the bungalow were found locked.
"Action will be taken in connection with the alleged violations linked to the Audi car under the Motor Vehicles Act. It has been found that the car used by Khedkar is registered in the name of a private company,” a police officer told news agency PTI.
Khedkar, a 2023 batch IAS officer, was transferred from Pune to Washim on Tuesday after allegations of power misuse. It was alleged that the officer had made repeated requests for a private cabin, car, living quarters, and a peon even before joining duty on June 3.
Khedkar is also accused of submitting fake disability and Other Backward Class (OBC) certificates to clear the civil services exam. She also allegedly submitted a mental illness certificate.
The probationary officer was asked several times to report at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) to undergo a mandatory medical test to confirm her disabilities, she refused to do so.
Meanwhile, Khedkar took charge as an assistant collector at the Washim District Collectorate on Thursday.
“I am happy to join duty at the Washim District Collectorate and am looking forward to working here,” she told the media, but declined to comment on the allegations against her.
“I am not authorised to speak on the issue. Government rules don't provide (allow) me to speak on this,” she told reporters.
