Pune police took away a luxury car from Pooja Khedkar, a probationary IAS officer on Sunday, because she allegedly installed a red beacon light on it illegally. The Pune Regional Transport Office (RTO) sent a notice to the private company that owns the Audi car Khedkar used while working in Pune. The car’s registered owner is linked to Shivane village in Haveli taluka.
Khedkar has been in the headlines recently for controversial demands, like wanting a separate office and staff while in Pune. She is also accused of misusing the disability and Other Backward Class (OBC) quotas to get her IAS position.
Khedkar allegedly used a red beacon light on the Audi car and had “Maharashtra Government” written on it without permission. Due to the controversy, she was transferred from Pune to Washim district before finishing her training.
Traffic violations and beacon regulations
“A notice was issued on Thursday for the unauthorised use of a beacon and name sign on the private car Khedkar was using. The car has now been confiscated, and we will check its documents as we investigate further,” a senior police official said on Sunday. They added that a jammer was placed on the car and barricades were set up around it.
The Audi car registered at the Pune RTO on June 27, 2012, has received 21 challans totaling Rs 27,000 for traffic violations, and the fine has been paid, according to officials.
Regulations on beacon usage and official scrutiny
According to Section 108 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules (CMVR) 1989, the state government can permit VIPs and certain officials to use red or amber beacon lights on official vehicles. In December 2013, the state government reduced the list of posts eligible for beacons, following a Supreme Court directive, and issued a revised list in 2014.
As of October 2014, the transport commissioner’s office instructed various departments to remove beacons from vehicles of officials not entitled to use them. Currently, only top officials above the secretary level, police officers of inspector general rank or higher, and regional commissioners can use amber beacons without flashers, while top district officials are allowed blue beacons.
On Thursday, the Centre set up a single-member committee to ‘verify the candidature’ of Pooja Khedkar, a 2023-batch IAS officer from the Maharashtra cadre. An additional secretary-ranked officer will conduct the investigation to check the claims regarding her candidature and other details. If found guilty, she may face termination from service, according to official sources.
With inputs from PTI