The Pune Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has requested approval from the ACB headquarters of the Maharashtra government to carry out an open inquiry in Pune concerning a disproportionate assets case involving Dilip Khedkar, who is the father of probationary IAS officer Puja Khedkar. The Pune ACB has demanded this open inquiry to delve into the allegations against Dilip Khedkar. Previously, a complaint had been lodged against him with the Nashik Anti-Corruption Bureau, and because the investigation is still in progress, the Pune ACB is unable to commence a new one.
Advocate Tanaji Gambhire, the complainant in this disproportionate assets case, has provided the Pune ACB with more than 2,000 pages of evidence, including information about nine companies associated with the Khedkar family. Dilip Khedkar, who retired in 2020 as the Director of the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), has been preliminarily found to have accumulated disproportionate assets during his tenure with the Maharashtra government.
The Pune ACB is seeking permission to conduct an open inquiry; if not granted, the Pune complaint will be integrated with the ongoing investigation in Nashik, and the Nashik department will handle the open inquiry for both cases. An open inquiry would enable the ACB to directly address Khedkar's properties and assets nationwide. The Pune ACB has already submitted a report to the Mumbai headquarters.
The initiation of the open inquiry by the ACB against Dilip Khedkar followed the questioning of the OBC status of Puja Khedkar amid allegations of power abuse. Reports have indicated that the Khedkar family's wealth exceeds Rs 40 crore. Dilip Khedkar owns numerous properties in Mumbai, Pune, Pune Rural, and Ahmednagar, and his 2024 Lok Sabha election affidavit lists his properties and assets at around Rs 40 crore.
The Khedkar family came under the spotlight due to accusations against Puja Khedkar of power misuse, forgery of disability certificates, and improper use of the OBC quota. Puja Khedkar was transferred from Pune to Washim amidst demands for special privileges, and her training has been suspended by the central government. A committee established by the central government is investigating these allegations against her.
