The Central government has discharged Civil Services trainee officer Puja Khedkar from Indian Administrative Service (IAS) with immediate effect, sources said on Saturday.
“Vide Order dated 6th September, 2024 the Central Government discharges Ms Puja Manorama Dilip Khedkar, IAS Probationer (MH:2023), from the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) under Rule 12 of IAS (Probation) Rules, 1954, with immediate effect,” the sources said.
The government order came after Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) filed a case against the trainee officer in July for availing attempts in the civil services exam by faking her identity. The UPSC on July 31 cancelled the candidature of Khedkar and debarred her permanently from all the future examinations and selections of the Commission.
What UPSC said?
The UPSC said that she was found “guilty of acting in contravention of the provisions of the Civil Services Examination-2022 Rules”.
“The UPSC has conducted a detailed and thorough investigation in the misdemeanor of Ms Puja Manorama Dilip Khedkar provisionally recommended candidate of the civil services examination. From the investigation it has been revealed that she fraudulently availed attempts beyond the permissible limits under the examination rules by faking her identity by way of changing her name, her father’s and mother’s name, her photograph, signature, e-mail ID, mobile number and address,” the commission said.
The Delhi Police had also registered an FIR under provisions of the Indian Penal Code, Information Technology Act and Right of Persons with Disabilities Act.
Delhi Police’s Status report:
Delhi Police, in its second status report submitted to the Delhi High Court on Wednesday, stated that the disability certificates submitted by Khedkar are most likely “forged and fabricated.” She had submitted two separate disability certificates for her UPSC exams.
“Disability Certificate (Multiple Disability) vide No. MH2610119900342407 has not been issued by the Issuing Medical Authority, Ahmednagar, Maharashtra as per our Civil Surgeon Office Records, hence the possibility of Disability Certificate forged and fabricated is more likely,” the report noted.
Khedkar’s reaction and clarification
Khedkar on Thursday told Delhi High Court she was willing to get herself medically examined in AIIMS, after the city police claimed that one of her disability certificates may be “forged” and “fabricated”.
“I am willing to get myself medically examined. First they say I changed my name. Now they say disability is questionable. I am willing to go to AIIMS,” the senior counsel appearing for Khedkar said.
Khedkar’s interim protection of arrest granted by the high court will continue till then.
What’s the row?
Khedkar, a 2023 batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Maharashtra cadre, has been accused of faking her caste and medical certificates. The 34-year-old IAS officer made headlines over her alleged demands for a separate office, staff and quarters — which she is not entitled to as a probationer. Pune police are probing charges that she used a red beacon and an insignia of the Maharashtra government on her private Audi vehicle.
Amid allegations that she misrepresented herself under the physical disabilities category, she was transferred to Washim from Pune. She was also accused of availing the OBC and non-creamy layer quota in the UPSC.
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