UPSC files FIR against Puja Khedkar for alleged identity fraud, moves to cancel candidature

New Delhi: In a recent development, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) said on Friday that it has filed a First Information Report (FIR) against IAS probationer Puja Manorama Dilip Khedkar and also served a show cause notice for the cancellation of her candidature and debarment from future examinations. 

The UPSC said in a press release that 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. 

The Commission has registered a First Information Report (FIR) against IAS probationer Puja Manorama Dilip Khedkar for allegedly ''faking her identity to fraudulently avail attempts beyond permissible limit''.

Khedkar has been accused of securing her MBBS admission at Shrimati Kashibai Navale Medical College and General Hospital, Pune in 2007 under the Other Backward Class (OBC) Nomadic Tribe-3 category of the Vanjari community by using an OBC caste certificate.  

Medical Dialogues team earlier reported that 34-year-old Khedkar, gained the attention of the media and the government after Pune Collector Suhas Diwase submitted a 25-page report to Nitin Gadre, the additional chief secretary accusing her of asking for privileges not typically provided to trainee officers which included demands for a separate office, official vehicle, staff and others. Diwase also accused her of using a private Audi car with a red-blue beacon light and a VIP number plate. 

According to an ANI report, the Commission said it has also issued her a show cause notice for the cancellation of her selection and debarment from future examinations.

Khekar was a provisionally recommended candidate for the Civil Service Examination, 2022.

A Show Cause Notice (SCN) has also been issued for the cancellation of Khedkar's candidature for the Civil Services Examination 2022 and debarment from future examinations and selections, in accordance with the Rules of the Civil Services Examination 2022.

Additionally, the Commission has categorically stated that in fulfilling it's constitutional obligations, the UPSC 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.

Additionally, on July 16, the officer was relieved from the District Training Programme of the State Government of Maharashtra.

She was recalled to the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) in Mussoorie and her training has been put on hold, news agency ANI reported.

The letter from the Additional Chief Secretary, Nitin Gadre, read, "LBSNAA Mussoorie has decided to keep your district training programme on hold and immediately recall you for further necessary action."

Khedkar, a probationary IAS officer who secured an All India rank of 821 in the UPSC exams and has been accused of misusing her authority.