UPSC Files Police Case Against Puja Khedkar For Fraud, Moves To Cancel Candidature

New Delhi: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on Friday filed a case against probationary IAS officer Puja Khedkar, who is under investigation for allegedly forging disability certificates to clear the civil services exam.

The commission also sought to cancel her candidature in connection with the case, India Today reported.

The commission issued a notice for cancellation of her candidature of the civil services examination-2022 and debarment from future examinations/selections. Khedkar, a 2023 batch IAS probationer, was accused of misusing power and privileges during her training in Pune recently.

In a statement, the UPSC said it has conducted a “detailed and thorough investigation in the misdemeanour of Ms. Puja Manorama Dilip Khedkar, a provisionally recommended candidate of the Civil Services Examination-2022.”

“From this investigation, it has been revealed that she fraudulently availed attempts beyond the permissible limit under the Examination Rules by faking her identity by way of changing her name, her father’s and mother’s name, her photograph/ signature, her email ID, mobile number and address.”

“The UPSC has, therefore, initiated a series of actions against her, including Criminal Prosecution by filing a First Information Report (FIR) with the Police Authorities and has issued a Show Cause Notice (SCN) for cancellation of her candidature of the Civil Services Examination-2022/ debarment from future examinations/selections, in accordance with the Rules of the Civil Services Examination-2022,” the report quoted the statement as saying.

“Categorically stated that in fulfilling its Constitutional obligations, 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 UPSC has ensured the sanctity and integrity of all its examination processes with the utmost fairness and strict observance of Rules,” it read.

On Thursday, Khedkar was called by the Pune Police to record her statement.

This came after Khedkar filed a harassment case against Pune district collector Suhas Diwase, who reported her alleged misuse of power to the Maharashtra government.