Dilip Khedkar, father of controversial IAS officer Puja Khedkar, faced suspension twice during his tenure with the Maharashtra government. Documents accessed by India Today TV revealed these suspensions were due to serious allegations of bribery and corruption.
Dilip Khedkar retired in 2023 as Director of the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB). His career was marred by accusations that ultimately led to his suspension first in 2018 and then again in 2020. These suspensions were enforced under the Maharashtra Civil Services (Conduct) Rules and the Maharashtra Civil Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, as well as the Maharashtra Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Rules.
Allegations and Suspensions
The first suspension occurred in 2018. While serving as the Regional Officer at the Mumbai Regional Office, Khedkar faced accusations from 300-400 small entrepreneurs. They claimed he caused unnecessary trouble to business owners in Mumbai, extorting money illegally. This led to a formal complaint by the state Minister for Industries, Mining, Environment, and Public Works Department to the Chief Minister on October 6, 2015.
In March 2018, while at the Kolhapur Regional Office, another incident surfaced. The Kolhapur Saw Mill and Timber Merchant alleged that Khedkar demanded bribes to restore power and water supply, asking for Rs 25,000 and Rs 50,000 respectively. This complaint was lodged with the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Anti-Corruption Branch, Kolhapur.
March 2019 saw further complaints. Sona Alloys Pvt. Ltd. accused Khedkar of harassment for refusing to pay an excessive bribe of Rs 50,000. Suprabha Polymer and Packaging in Pune also accused him of demanding Rs 20 lakh as a bribe, eventually settling for Rs 13 lakh. A preliminary investigation was ordered into this complaint.
Despite being transferred from the Kolhapur Regional Office to the Maitri Cell, Maharashtra State Small Scale Industries Development Corporation, Mumbai, on May 24, 2018, Khedkar did not join the new post. He was absent without permission for nearly seven months, further compounding his troubles.
Wealth and Controversies
Dilip Khedkar’s suspension led to detailed departmental inquiries. His vast wealth came under scrutiny, including multiple properties in Mumbai, Pune, Pune Rural, and Ahmednagar. In his 2024 Lok Sabha election affidavit, he declared properties and assets worth around Rs 40 crores.
The controversies surrounding the Khedkar family did not end with Dilip Khedkar. His daughter, Puja Khedkar, a probationary IAS officer, was accused of forging disability certificates to clear the civil services exam. This allegation brought the Khedkar family into the spotlight. An old video of Puja’s mother, Manorama, brandishing a gun at a farmer went viral, adding to the family’s notoriety.
Current Status
Puja Khedkar’s IAS training in Maharashtra has been put on hold. The Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), Mussoorie, has ordered her recall for further action. The investigation into her alleged fraudulent activities continues, while the controversies surrounding her father remain a stark reminder of the ethical challenges within the civil services.
