Taking cognisance of the uproar over deception and discrepancies in the selection and appointment, the Union public service commission (UPSC) initiated action against the controversial Indian Administrative Services (IAS) probationary officer Puja Khedkar. UPSC also initiated criminal prosecution by filing a first information report (FIR) against her for fraudulently availing examination attempts beyond the permissible limit by faking her identity.
UPSC has also issued a show cause notice for cancelling her civil services examination (CSE) 2022 candidature and debarred her from appearing in future exams.
In a release, UPSC says it conducted a detailed and thorough investigation into the misdemeanour of Ms Khedkar, a provisionally recommended candidate for the CSE 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."
Earlier, following a letter from the Mussoorie-based Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), the Maharashtra government has decided to immediately relieve Ms Khedkar from the district training programme. She is asked to report to LBSNAA for 'further necessary action'.
Following a complaint from the Pune district collector's office about the trainee IAS officer demanding a separate cabin, official residence, vehicle and support staff and illegally using a beacon on a private car, Ms Khedkar was transferred to Washim district to complete her training. She will serve there as a 'supernumerary assistant collector' till 30 July 2025.
On Sunday, the Pune police confiscated the Audi car used by the controversial probationary officer by allegedly installing a red and blue beacon on it illegally. The car is registered in the name of Thermoverita Engineering Pvt Ltd.
The probationary IAS officer's parents possess property that includes 110 acres of agricultural land, violating the Agricultural Land Ceiling Act, six shops, seven flats, including one in Hiranandani, 900 grams of gold, diamonds, a gold watch worth Rs17 lakh, four cars, partnerships in two private limited companies and one automobile firm. She herself possesses property worth Rs17 crore.
Her father, Dilip Khedkar, is a former state government officer from Maharashtra, unsuccessfully contested the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections from Ahmednagar constituency on a ticket from Vanchit Bahujan Aaghadi of Prakash Ambedkar. In his election affidavit, Mr Khedkar showed a wealth of over Rs40 crore for himself and Rs18 crore for his wife. (
Read: Puja Khedkar IAS: A Saga of Deception and Discrepancies?)
According to reports, Mr Khedkar is still absconding.
On Thursday, the judicial magistrate court in Pune sent Manorama Dilip Khedkar, the mother of the controversial IAS probationary officer to police custody till 20 July 2024. After 'missing' for nearly a week after a video went viral on social media showing Manorama Khedkar threatening some farmers in Mulshi with a pistol allegedly to grab their land, she was arrested by Pune rural police from a hotel in Mahad in Raigad district. (
Read: IAS Puja Khedkar's Mother Manorama Sent to Police Custody till 20th July)
