Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has canceled the selection of trainee IAS officer Puja Khedkar, who is under investigation for fraudulent claims regarding her identity, including changing the names of her parents, and lying about visual and mental disabilities to clear the Civil Services entrance exam. The notice was issued on Friday afternoon, stating that Ms. Khedkar “fraudulently availed attempts beyond the permissible limit,” and the UPSC has “initiated a series of actions against” the 23-year-old.
These actions include filing a police case for criminal prosecution and issuing a show-cause notice asking why her candidature should not be canceled. Further actions may include disbarring her from taking the entrance exam in the future.
The UPSC emphasized its commitment to maintaining trust and credibility, stating, “… the UPSC stringently adheres to its Constitutional mandate, and conducts all its processes, including all examinations, with the highest possible order of due diligence without any compromise.”
The action against Ms. Khedkar follows a report submitted by the Maharashtra government to the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT). This report compiled documents from multiple sources to verify Puja Khedkar’s claims, including those about her physical disability and her OBC (Other Backward Class) status.
The report also mentions Ms. Khedkar’s alleged abuse of power during her first posting as an Assistant Collector in Pune. She was later transferred as a Supernumerary Assistant Collector to Washim after allegations surfaced that she had improperly secured perks and benefits, such as using a siren on her private car, which are not available to probationary staff.
Further allegations indicated that Ms. Khedkar used fake disability certificates to qualify for the IAS despite her modest all-India rank of 841 in the entrance test. It was revealed that she first approached Aundh Hospital in Pune, which refused her request for disability certification, and later succeeded at another hospital in Pipri, which diagnosed her with an “old ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) tear with left knee instability.”
Earlier this week, Ms. Khedkar was recalled from Washim to the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration in Mussoorie, Uttarakhand, where future government officers are trained.
The UPSC’s decisive action underscores its commitment to maintaining the integrity of the civil services examination process and ensuring that all candidates are held to the highest standards of honesty and accountability.
