Trainee IAS officer Puja Khedkar has refrained from commenting on the allegations against her, indicating she will present her case to a government-appointed committee. Recently transferred from Pune to Washim due to inappropriate demands, Khedkar acknowledged the formation of a one-member committee to investigate her conduct and selection process.

Khedkar stated, "If a committee is formed, I will present my side before the committee. I came to know from the media that a committee has been formed. So we should respect it. I will follow the process." These were her first public remarks since the controversy began last week.

The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has appointed an additional secretary to investigate the matter and submit a report within two weeks. The central government initiated the probe amidst allegations that Khedkar utilized Other Backward Class (OBC) benefits and disability concessions to secure her position in the Indian Administrative Service (IAS).

A 2023-batch IAS officer from the Maharashtra cadre, Khedkar claimed to be visually impaired in her affidavit to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). She missed six medical tests to verify her disability in 2022 but later produced an MRI report from an external medical center, which was accepted in 2023 after an eight-month delay.

Khedkar previously attracted controversy by requesting special privileges from the Pune Collector's office, privileges not authorized for her designation. She also used her private Audi car with a red-blue beacon light and VIP number plate, and installed a 'Maharashtra government' board on her vehicle.

Khedkar will now serve the remainder of her probationary period as a supernumerary assistant collector of Washim.