On Friday, UPSC registered a First Information Report (FIR) against IAS probationer Puja Khedkar for allegedly “faking her identity to fraudulently avail attempts beyond permissible limit”. It has also issued a show cause notice initiating the cancellation of her selection and debarment from all further examinations.
Ms. Khedkar, 32, joined Pune Collectorate as part of her probationary training in June 2024. Last week, the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) put her training program on hold and retained Ms. Khedkar in the academy from Washim, where she was continuing her training after being transferred from Pune.
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UPSC has initiated a criminal prosecution
UPSC conducted a thorough investigation after several allegations regarding the misdemeanor of Ms Puja Manorama Dilip Khedkar. She was a provisionally recommended candidate for the Civil Services Examination 2022.
It is now officially revealed that Ms Khedkar has fraudulently availed the attempts beyond the permissible limit. She changed her name, parents’ name, address, Photograph, and signature to fake her identity.
UPSC has, therefore, initiated a criminal prosecution by filing an FIR, and issued the Show Cause Notice (SCN) for cancellation of her candidature of the Civil Services Examination-2022 and debarment from future examinations/selections.
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Misuse of power led to removal of curtain
Suhas Diwase, Collector, Pune, also submitted a report regarding her unsuitable demands. She was demanding extraordinary privileged treatment, such as using a red beacon and a “Government of Maharashtra” sticker on her private Audi car.
She is also accused of using the office of Pune Additional Collector Ajay More in his absence and demanded other perks like office furniture, letterheads, a separate house, car i.e. perks which are not officially assigned to probationary officers in their 24-month training period. Several allegations regarding misuse of Other Backward Classes (OBC) and Persons With Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) quotas to clear the UPSE Civil Services Examination were also occurring.
Controversies due to such allegations have threatened her entire career and initiated a criminal prosecution. The parents are already booked due to an aforementioned incident from June 2023.
About the Author
Ms Anuja Choudhary is a public policy enthusiast and Master in Philosophy from LSR, DU. With a keen eye for authenticity, she is currently honing her craft as a writer to pen down the voices with utmost sincerity and integrity.
