UPSC slaps FIR against IAS-PO Puja Khedkar, may cancel her candidature

The investigation has 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 parents’ names

Mumbai: In a major development, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) said on Friday that it has initiated criminal proceedings against Maharashtra cadre (2023) IAS Probationary Officer Puja Khedkar for a series of irregularities perpetrated by her.

The UPSC said in a statement that it has also served Khedkar with a show-cause notice for “cancellation of her candidature of the Civil Services Examination (CSE)-2022/debarment from future examinations/selections”, in accordance with the rules of the CSE-2022.

The statutory body said that it conducted a detailed investigation into the misdemeanour by Khedkar, whom it described as “a provisionally recommended candidate” for the CSE-2022

“The investigation has 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 parents’ names, her photograph/signature, her email ID, mobile number and address,” the UPSC said.

Accordingly, the UPSC has initiated a series of actions against her, including criminal proceedings by filing an FIR with the police, besides serving her a show-cause notice. The UPSC said that in fulfilling its constitutional obligations, it 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 reiterated that it has ensured the sanctity and integrity of all its examination processes with utmost fairness and strict observance of rules. “The UPSC has deservedly earned the trust and credibility of a very high order from the public, especially the candidates. The UPSC is unequivocally committed to ensuring that such a high order of trust and credibility remains intact and uncompromised,” the statement said.

Following a series of exposes against her, Khedkar, currently appointed as Assistant Collector, Washim, was last week removed from her field assignment and ordered to report back to the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Mussoorie, ‘for further action’.

Meanwhile, the Pimpri-Chinchwad civic body on Friday sealed an engineering firm linked to the mother of controversial probationary Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Puja Khedkar over unpaid property tax amounting to nearly Rs 2 lakh, municipal officials said.