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IAS officer Pooja Khedkar's luxury car allegedly illegally installed red beacon lights has been confiscated by the Pune police. (Image source: PTI)
Trainee IAS Khedkar allegedly used a red beacon light on an Audi car and wrote “Government of Maharashtra” on it without permission.
Pune police on Sunday seized a luxury car used by controversial IAS trainee officer Pooja Khedkar for allegedly illegally installing red beacon lights, an official said.
The Pune Regional Transport Office (RTO) on Thursday issued a notice to a city-based private company, which is the registered owner of the Audi car used by 34-year-old Khedkar during his tenure there.
According to officials, the address of the registered user is Shivane village in Haveli taluka.
Khedekar has been in the spotlight recently amid controversy surrounding her demands such as separate cabins and staff during her tenure in Pune.
She allegedly abused the Disabled and Other Backward Class (OBC) quota to get a job in the Indian Administrative Service (IAS).
Khedekar allegedly used a red beacon light on the Audi car and wrote “Government of Maharashtra” on it without permission.
After the controversy, she was shifted from Pune to Washim district before completing her training.
“A notice was issued on Thursday prohibiting the unauthorized use of beacons and name tags on the private car used by Khedekar. The car has now been seized and its documents will be checked while we investigate the matter further, “A senior police officer said on Sunday.
Jammers were installed on cars and roadblocks were set up around them, he said.
The Audi car was registered with the Pune RTO on June 27, 2012, and had received as many as 21 fines in the past for alleged traffic violations, with a total charge of Rs 27,000.
According to officials, the fine has been paid.
As per Rule 108 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules (CMVR) 1989, the state government can approve the use of red or amber beacon lights on official vehicles by VIPs, VVIPs and government officials.
In December 2013, the state government streamlined the list of government jobs entitled to use beacons and released a revised list in 2014 following the Supreme Court's directives.
In October 2014, the Office of the Transportation Commissioner asked departments to remove beacons from officers' vehicles that they did not have authority to use.
According to the list, only senior state government officials above the level of secretary, inspector general of police and police officers above the district commissioner level can use amber beacons without flashers, while senior district officials are authorized to use amber beacons. Color beacon.
The Center on Thursday constituted a one-man committee to “verify” the candidature of IAS officers of the Maharashtra cadre 2023.
The Center said in a statement that the probe will be conducted by an additional secretary-level officer to verify claims regarding Khedkar's candidacy and other details.
Official sources earlier said she could be fired if found guilty.
(This article has not been edited by News18 staff and is published by PTI)
