Ias Officer

IAS officer removed by EC before polls reinstated as Ranchi dy commissioner

The Hemant Soren government has reinstated Manjunath Bhajantri as the Ranchi district deputy commissioner (DC), from which he was removed by the EC before the Assembly elections following a complaint by the BJP, according to a notification. The decision to bring Bhajantri back to the post was taken hours after JMM leader Hemant Soren took oath as the Chief Minister of Jharkhand. The 2011 batch IAS officer was appointed as Ranchi DC by the Hemant Soren government on September 30 ahead of the polls which took place in two phases - November 20 and 23. He was removed on October 15 following a complaint by the BJP legal cell to the Chief Electoral Officer and shifted to Jharkhand State Livelihood Promotion Society as its CEO. "Chief Executive Officer of Jharkhand State Livelihood Promotion Society (JSLPS) Manjunath Bhajantri has been transferred and appointed as Deputy Commissioner, Ranchi, till further orders," a notification from the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms .

Who is Amit Kataria? India's richest IAS officer who took Rs 1 as salary

According to several news reports, 2004-cadre Amit Kataria is India's richest IAS officer with a net worth of ₹8.90 crore

Religious Whatsapp group: IAS officer's phone reset, says Kerala police

The Kerala police on Saturday said that the phone of the IAS officer, whose WhatsApp account was used to create a religious group, was completely reset and therefore, forensics could not ascertain whether it was hacked as claimed by him. Amidst reports quoting police suggesting that the IAS officer's phone was not hacked, Thiruvananthapuram City Police Commissioner Sparjan Kumar said that it remains unclear whether the device was compromised, as it had been "reset". He also said that he had given a report regarding the matter to the State Police Chief, DGP Shaik Darvesh Saheb. The DGP's office said that the report was confidential and would be forwarded to the state government. The police investigated the matter following a complaint by the IAS officer alleging that his personal WhatsApp number was hacked and used to create a religious group. In the controversial WhatsApp group, officers from various communities were added, and the group was labelled as a Hindu community group. U

Kerala govt to examine controversial WhatsApp group formed for IAS officers

The Kerala government will examine the incident involving the controversial formation of a WhatsApp group for Hindu IAS officers, State Industries Minister P Rajeeve said on Monday. His statement followed a complaint lodged by an IAS officer with the police, alleging that his personal WhatsApp number was hacked and used to create a religious group. Responding to the controversy, Rajeeve said that the state government would investigate the formation of a group specifically for Hindu IAS officers. Describing the incident as "serious," he said that community-based divisions are highly concerning. "The government will look into this matter. There is a general code of conduct for IAS officers, which falls under the Public Administration department. We are currently examining the situation. Let's review and determine what needs to be done," he told reporters in New Delhi on Monday. The controversy arose after an IAS officer lodged a complaint with the police, claiming his personal Whats

HC seeks Puja Khedkar's response to UPSC's perjury claim in bail case

The Delhi High Court on Thursday sought the stand of Puja Khedkar on the UPSC's allegation that the former IAS probationer committed perjury by making a false statement in relation to her anticipatory bail plea. Justice Subramaniam Prasad asked Khedkar to file her reply to the Commission's application, which is filed in the proceedings on her pre-arrest bail plea. "I will issue notice. File your reply," Justice Prasad told Khedkar's counsel, and listed the matter for hearing on September 26. Khedkar has been accused of cheating and wrongly availing Other Backward Classes (OBC) and disability quota benefits in civil services examination. She has denied all allegations against her. In its application filed through lawyer Vardhman Kaushik, the UPSC submitted that Khedkar, in her rejoinder, made an "absolutely false" statement on affidavit that the Commission had collected her biometrics during personality tests. Seeking initiation of inquiry and appropriate proceedings against her f

First Muslim IAS officer from Kashmir Mohd Shafi Pandit passes away

Mohammad Shafi Pandit, the first Muslim IAS officer from Kashmir, passed away on Thursday. He was 80. Pandit was undergoing treatment at a hospital in Delhi after he was detected with cancer about a month ago, his family said. Pandit was the first Muslim from Kashmir to qualify the civil services examinations in 1969. His final assignment with the government was as the head of autonomous Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission. In the bureaucratic circles, Pandit was widely viewed as a chief secretary that Jammu and Kashmir never had. The soft-spoken Pandit was part of many civil society and philanthropic initiatives in Kashmir. He also played a key role in rolling out of the Mandal Commission report as he was the joint secretary in the Government of India in 1992. Pandit's body will be flown to Srinagar later in the day. "If possible, he will be laid to rest today," his family said. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh condoled the death of the IAS officer. "My good friend of ma

Senior IAS Amardeep Singh Bhatia takes charge as new DPIIT secretary

Senior IAS officer Amardeep Singh Bhatia has assumed the charge of Secretary in the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), an official statement said on Wednesday. He has replaced Rajesh Kumar Singh, who has been appointed as Officer on Special Duty, Department of Defence. Prior to this, Bhatia, a 1993 Batch from Nagaland cadre, was serving as Additional Secretary in the Department of Commerce and was involved in trade policies and free trade agreement negotiations. In the central government, he has held many important positions in the Ministries of Corporate Affairs and Health and Family Welfare. In the state government, the new DPIIT secretary has handled Departments of Planning and Coordination, Health and Family Welfare, Environment and Forest, Municipalities and Local Self Government and Home, among others. DPIIT, under the commerce and industry ministry, looks after foreign direct investment (FDI) policy, startups, ease of doing business, promoting

Senior IAS officer Govind Mohan to take charge as union home secretary

Senior IAS officer Govind Mohan on Thursday will take charge as the new Union Home Secretary from Ajay Kumar Bhalla, who completes his five year tenure at the sensitive post, official sources said. Mohan, a B.Tech from Banaras Hindu University and PG Diploma from IIM, Ahmedabad, was serving as union culture secretary before his appointment to the top bureaucratic post, next only to the Cabinet Secretary. A 1989 batch IAS officer of Sikkim cadre, Mohan has already joined the Union Home Ministry as an Officer on Special Duty. He has a wide experience of serving both the Sikkim and the central governments in various capacities. Mohan is considered to be one of the brilliant officers presently serving in the government and known for his diligence. He had earlier served the home ministry as additional secretary handling several key divisions, including Union territories. A seasoned bureaucrat, Mohan was also the government's key officer during the COVID-19 pandemic and tasked with ...

Senior IAS officer Govind Mohan appointed as next Union Home Secretary

Senior IAS officer Govind Mohan was on Wednesday appointed the next Union Home Secretary, succeeding Ajay Kumar Bhalla, according to an official order. Govind, presently serving as Secretary, Ministry of Culture, will join as Officer on Special Duty in the Ministry of Home Affairs. "The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of Govind Mohan, IAS (Sikkim: 1989), Secretary, Ministry of Culture as Officer on Special Duty in the Ministry of Home Affairs with immediate effect. "The officer will take over as Home Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs vice Shri Ajay Kumar Bhalla, IAS (Assam-Meghalaya: 1984) on completion of his tenure on 22.08.2024," the order stated.

Delhi HC grants interim relief to Puja Khedkar, bars immediate arrest

The court noted that the applicant/accused is charged with offenses punishable under Sections 420, 468, 471, 120B IPC, 66D of the IT Act, and Sections 89/91 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Delhi HC provides interim relief to Puja Khedkar, no arrest till Aug 21

The Delhi High Court also issued a notice to the Delhi police and the UPSC, requesting an explanation as to why Khedkar's custody is necessary for further investigation

Court denies anticipatory bail to former IAS probationer Puja Khedkar

A Delhi court on Thursday denied anticipatory bail to former IAS probationer Puja Khedkar who has been accused of cheating and wrongly availing of OBC and PwD (person with disabilities) quota benefits. Additional Sessions Judge Devender Kumar Jangala said Delhi Police "must also investigate if anyone from inside the UPSC helped Khedkar". The judge also widened the probe in the case and directed Delhi Police to investigate if other persons have availed of benefits under OBC and PwD quotas without entitlement. The UPSC on Wednesday cancelled Khedkar's candidature and debarred her from future exams. The judge had on Wednesday reserved the order after hearing arguments on the application filed by Khedkar, who claimed through her lawyer that she has "imminent threat of arrest". During the proceeding, the prosecution as well as the counsel appearing for the UPSC had opposed the application, claiming that she has "cheated the system". "This person has abused the law and process of law.

Preeti Sudan appointed new UPSC chairperson; to take office on Aug 1

IAS officer from the 1983 batch Preeti Sudan has been appointed chairperson of the Union Public Service Commission following Manoj Soni's resignation amid recruitment controversy

Delhi court defers IAS Puja Khedkar's anticipatory bail plea to Wednesday

UPSC has initiated proceedings against IAS trainee Puja Khedkar (currently on probation) for the cancellation of her selection and future disqualification from the exams

Delhi coaching centre flooding: Police registers FIR, forms teams to probe

The Delhi Police has registered an FIR and formed multiple teams to probe the Rajinder Nagar coaching centre flooding incident which killed three IAS aspirants, officials said on Sunday. The police have arrested the owner and the coordinator of the Rau's IAS Study Circle and booked them for culpable homicide and under other charges. "Multiple teams have been formed to investigate the entire incident. We have asked the Delhi Fire Services to provide us report about the building and the basement which was being used as a library but mentioned as 'store room'," a senior police officer said. The officer further said the basement was eight-feet below the ground level and more than 18 students were present in it on Saturday evening when it got flooded after heavy rains. According to sources in the police department, the gate of the basement was closed, but due to high pressure of rain water, it got damaged and water gushed in. "We are checking CCTV footage from the area to ascertain the

Pune court sends IAS Puja Khedkar's mother to jail, denies bail plea

A Pune court on Monday remanded controversial probationary IAS officer Puja Khedkar's mother to 14-day judicial custody in a criminal case linked to a land dispute and also rejected her bail plea, saying attempt to murder charge has been invoked against her and she can seek relief only in a sessions court, said the prosecution. Manorama Khedkar, mother of the junior IAS officer, was arrested for allegedly threatening some persons with a gun over a land dispute in Pune district last year. Manorama Khedkar was produced in the court of Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) in Paud area after her police custody ended on Monday. As the prosecution did not press for her further police remand, JMFC Sudhir Barde sent the accused to judicial custody for 14 days, said Public Prosecutor Amar Nanaware. The defence lawyer representing Manorama Khedkar then moved an application for regular bail. However, the JMFC pointed out that the offence under IPC section 307 (attempt to murder), which has

Maha Court extends police custody of Khedkar's mother till July 22

A court in Maharashtra's Pune district on Saturday extended till July 22 the police custody of Manorama Khedkar, mother of IAS probationer Puja Khedkar, in a case concerning alleged criminal intimidation tied to a land dispute. Police booked Puja's parents Manorama and Dilip and four others after a video surfaced showing her allegedly threatening some persons with a gun over a land dispute at Dhadwali village in the district's Mulshi tehsil in 2023. The prosecution told the court that they had recovered the pistol used in the crime. The Paud police in Pune rural had booked the Khedkar couple and other accused under IPC sections, including 307 (attempt to murder), 144 (unlawful assembly armed with deadly weapon), 147 (rioting) and 506 (criminal intimidation) besides invoking the Arms Act. Manorama was apprehended on Thursday morning from a lodge, where she was hiding, at Hirkaniwadi village near Mahad in Raigad district. Public Prosecutor Amar Nanaware told the court on Saturday th

Ex- IAS Ranchhodbhai fined Rs 1L for filing frivolous plea against J-K LG

The Central Administrative Tribunal's Jammu Bench has imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh on a former IAS officer for filing a "mischievous and frivolous" plea against the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir and other senior bureaucrats. The tribunal's judicial member Rajinder Dogra, in the July 16 order, said the application filed by a former IAS officer Kumar Ranchhodbhai Parmar about his service was just to "harass" the Lt Governor Manoj Sinha and other bureaucrats. The tribunal said this was a service-related matter and instead of impleading the Union and the state governments, Parmar has impleaded Sinha and other authorities by their names. "It is quite astonishing to note that the applicant, a senior IAS officer with extensive knowledge of the Constitution and its laws, proceeded to file the application seeking relief against the Hon'ble Lieutenant Governor," the tribunal said. The tribunal said it was dismissing the application and imposing a cost of Rs 1 lakh on Parmar to ...

Pune ACB receives complaint seeking inquiry against Puja Khedkar's father

The Pune unit of the Anti Corruption Bureau has received a complaint application seeking an open inquiry against Dilip Khedkar, a retired government official and father of controversial IAS probationer Puja Khedkar, in connection with alleged disproportionate assets, a senior official said. The Pune ACB unit has sought directions from the ACB headquarters, as there is already an ongoing inquiry regarding disproportionate assets to known sources of income by the Nashik division of the ACB against Dilip Khedkar. "An open inquiry against Dilip Khedkar is currently underway at the Ahmednagar unit by Nashik ACB. We have now received another complaint seeking an open inquiry. We have recorded the complainant's statement and forwarded the complaint to ACB headquarters along with the evidence," said Amol Tambe, Superintendent of Police, Pune ACB, on Wednesday. He said directions have been sought from the ACB headquarters to either incorporate the fresh complaint into the ongoing inquiry or

Puja Khedkar lodges complaint against Pune collector for harrasment

Probationary IAS officer Puja Khedkar has lodged a complaint of harassment against Pune district collector Suhas Diwase with Washim police, an official said on Tuesday. Khedkar is under the scanner for her claims on her disability as well as OBC certificates while clearing the IAS and for her conduct when she was posted in the Pune collector's office. "Women police personnel visited Khedkar at her residence in Washim on Monday when she lodged a complaint of harassment against Pune district collector Suhas Diwase," the official said. Earlier in the day, Khedkar refused to elaborate on the purpose of the visit by police personnel while speaking to TV news channels. "I had called female police personnel because I had some work," she had said. Amid the row, the government on Tuesday put on hold the 'district training program' of Khedkar as she was summoned back to the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration for "necessary action".