IAS Officer's Mother's Engineering Firm Sealed Over Unpaid Taxes

Pimpri-Chinchwad civic body sealed Thermoverita India Pvt Ltd, an engineering firm linked to the mother of probationary IAS officer Puja Khedkar, for unpaid property taxes amounting to nearly Rs 2 lakh. Manorama Khedkar, Puja's mother, is currently in police custody, and the IAS officer faces multiple allegations, including fraudulent identity use for civil services.

On Friday, the Pimpri-Chinchwad civic body sealed an engineering firm linked to the mother of controversial probationary IAS officer Puja Khedkar over nearly Rs 2 lakh in unpaid property taxes, municipal officials confirmed.

Manorama Khedkar, the junior bureaucrat's mother, is now in police custody on criminal charges in Pune.

The Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) sealed the non-operational Thermoverita India Pvt Ltd in the Talawade area due to unpaid property dues.

Puja Khedkar had previously used the firm's address for a disability certificate application at Yashwantrao Chavan Memorial Hospital for civil services quota selection.

'The property tax from 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 for Thermoverita India Pvt Ltd has remained unpaid for two years. After issuing notices and cutting off their water supply, we ultimately sealed the property,' stated PCMC commissioner Shekhar Singh.

With an outstanding total of Rs 2.77 lakh including the current year's dues, the firm's future remains uncertain.

Manorama Khedkar was arrested for allegedly brandishing a gun over a land dispute in Mulshi tehsil in 2023.

Additionally, Puja Khedkar faces actions from the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for fraudulently availing attempts in civil services exams by faking her identity.

The UPSC has issued a show cause notice for the cancellation of her 2022 civil services examination candidature and her debarment from future exams.

The probationary IAS officer is also accused of misusing power and demanding unentitled perks and facilities during her recent training at Pune district collectorate.

(With inputs from agencies.)