The Union Public Service Commission has issued a show cause notice to cancel the candidature of Maharashtra cadre IAS trainee Puja Khedkar after it found the candidate has availed attempts for the examination beyond permissible limits through fraudulent means. The police have also registered an FIR against her based on the Commission’s complaint.
In a release, the UPSC said it has conducted a detailed investigation into the misdemeanour of Puja Manorama Dilip Khedkar. “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,” it said.
“The UPSC initiated a series of actions against her, including criminal prosecution by filing a First Information Report with the police authorities and has issued a Show Cause Notice 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 Commission said.
UPSC said it conducts all its processes, including all examinations, with the “highest possible order of due diligence without any compromise”. The Commission said it is unequivocally committed to ensure that high order of trust and credibility placed on it remains intact and uncompromised.
The IAS trainee landed in soup after news emerged she demanded facilities beyond her grade. She is accused of misrepresenting herself under the physical disabilities category to qualify for the exam and later abusing her position. She also allegedly submitted a fake Other Backward Class (OBC) certificate.
Khedkar was transferred from Pune to Washim earlier this month following allegations that she had made repeated requests for a private cabin, car, living quarters, and a peon even before joining duty on June 3. Following the allegations, the Centre formed a one-member panel to investigate the charges.
Khedkar was recently relieved from her training programme and was called back to Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) in Mussoorie.
