Former IAS trainee Puja Khedkar, who has been accused of cheating and faking her identity in the civil services exam, told the Delhi High Court on August 29 that the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has "no power" to disqualify her. Khedkar's IAS selection was cancelled on July 31 amid allegations that she wrongly secured OBC (Other Backward Class) and disability quota benefits. She was also barred from future civil services examinations as the UPSC found that she had also appeared for the exam more times than allowed.
"Once selected and appointed as a Probationary Officer, UPSC does not have the power to disqualify the candidature," said Khedkar, who is seeking anticipatory bail in the criminal case filed by the UPSC. She claimed that only the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) of the Central Government can take action against her.
The UPSC claimed that Khedkar attempted the exam more than the six times permitted for a general category candidate. The Commission said in a statement in July that they conducted a detailed and thorough investigation, which revealed that she faked her name, her parents' name, photograph, signature, email ID, mobile number and address.
What Is The Puja Khedkar Controversy
The controversy started in early July when trainee civil servant Puja Khedkar was transferred to Washim in Central Maharashtra after accusations arose that she faked a disability and her caste background while appearing for the UPSC exam in 2022. She allegedly also demanded facilities that were not available to probationary officers in the IAS and even went to the extent of claiming she had a disability in the application submitted for the civil services exam.
Khedkar, who started duty on June 3, was accused of exceeding her authority as a probationary IAS officer when she used a beacon light and VIP number plate on her private luxury car marking 'Maharashtra Government'. According to a report submitted by Pune district collector Suhas Diwse to the General Administration Department, she allegedly also demanded a private cabin, residential quarters, and a peon even before joining as a trainee.
The trainee's father Dilip Khedkar, a former State government officer, contested the recent Lok Sabha election when he had reportedly declared his property valued at Rs 40 crore. However, Puja Khedkar appeared for the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) exam under the Other Backward Class (OBC) non-creamy layer category, stating her annual parental income as Rs 8 lakh.
Khedkar was also accused of submitting fake disability and OBC certificates to clear the civil services exam, according to a report in the Press Trust of India. She reportedly alleged she had a mental illness and visual impairment. In April 2022, she was asked to report at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi, for verification of her disability certificate, but she did not do so, citing COVID-19 infection, PTI reported.
Khedkar also allegedly removed the nameplate of a senior official, Ajay More, at the Pune collector's office when he allowed her to use his ante-chamber as her office. As per rules, a trainee is not provided with these amenities and is required to be appointed as a gazetted officer first. Khedkar reportedly secured an All India Rank (AIR) of 841 in the UPSC 2022 batch.
Responding to her transfer, she told the media, "I am very happy to join Washim district and am looking forward to working here." The on-probation IAS officer also reacted to the allegations of misuse of power, stating she was not allowed to comment on it. "I am not authorised to speak about this as government rules do not allow me to speak anything on this matter," she told reporters.
Puja Khedkar Files Harassment Complaint Against Pune District Collector
On July 16, Puja Khedkar lodged a harassment complaint against Diwase, who ordered her transfer earlier in July 2024. Officials said that women police personnel visited her residence the previous day when she filed the complaint. While speaking to TV news channels, Khedkar refused to comment on the harassment complaint
Khedkar's 'district training program' has been halted and she has been summoned to the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration in Mussoorie for "further action" in the faux certificates case. The General Administration Department of the Maharashtra government instructed her to join the academy no later than July 23.
FIR Against Parents In Separate Case
In a fresh controversy to the case, a video has surfaced online where Puja Khedkar's mother, Manorama Khedkar, was seen threatening a local farmer with a firearm over an alleged land dispute. The incident reportedly took place on June 5, 2023, at the Dhadwali village of Pune district, and came to light amid the IAS Officer's controversy.
While no complaint was filed against Manorama at the time, the superintendent of Pune rural police Pankaj Deshmukh, confirmed that an offence was recently lodged in this case. An FIR was filed at Paud police station on July 12 by a 65-year-old farmer against Manorama Khedkar, her husband Dilip Khedkar, and others as per IPC sections 323, 504, 506, 143, 144, 147, 148 and 149 and sections of the Indian Arms Act.
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