A recent police report on IAS probationer Puja Khedkar’s parents, Dilip and Manorama Khedkar, has brought to light discrepancies between their legal status and their current living arrangement. According to the report submitted by the Pune police to the Centre, the Khedkars are legally separated but are reportedly “living together.”
The revelation comes amidst controversy surrounding Puja Khedkar’s eligibility for civil services, with allegations suggesting she might have misused disability and Other Backward Class (non-creamy layer) quotas to secure her position. During a viral mock interview with a private coaching institute, Puja had claimed that her parents were separated and that her income was “zero.”
The police report, filed on Wednesday, confirms that Dilip and Manorama Khedkar divorced in 2010 under Section 12 B of the Hindu Marriage Act, according to a Pune Family Court order. Despite their legal separation, the couple has been residing together, raising questions about the accuracy of Puja’s claims regarding her family status.
The central government had requested the report after allegations emerged about Puja’s potential misuse of quotas. Under the non-creamy layer criteria, the annual income limit is capped at ₹8 lakh. However, documents reveal that Puja’s parents’ income far exceeds this threshold. Dilip Khedkar declared assets worth over ₹40 crore in his 2024 Lok Sabha election affidavit, while Puja reported an annual income of ₹42 lakh and property worth ₹22 crore in her financial disclosures before joining the civil services on January 28, 2023.
Income tax returns for the year 2022-23 show Dilip’s income at ₹43,59,230 and Manorama’s at ₹6,03,010. Despite this, Dilip declared Manorama as his spouse and included her assets in his poll affidavit.
The discrepancies between the reported income and living arrangements have raised concerns about the integrity of the application process and eligibility criteria. The case continues to attract attention as authorities investigate the implications of the findings and the accuracy of the information provided by Puja Khedkar.
Sources By Agencies
