In a dramatic turn of events, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has annulled Puja Khedkar’s selection as a trainee IAS officer and permanently barred her from taking any future UPSC examinations. The decision follows an investigation revealing that Khedkar, who had cleared the Civil Services Examination 2022 (CSE-2022), falsified her identity to exceed the permissible limit for exam attempts.
The UPSC’s statement disclosed that Khedkar had violated the rules by fraudulently availing multiple attempts under different identities. She had been issued a Show Cause Notice (SCN) on July 18, 2024, but failed to submit her explanation within the extended deadline. Consequently, the UPSC canceled her provisional selection and imposed a lifetime ban on her participation in any future UPSC examinations.
The controversy surrounding Khedkar began when Pune Collector Suhas Diwase raised concerns about her demand for perks beyond her entitlements during her probation. This scrutiny revealed discrepancies in her eligibility criteria and a history of fraudulent practices. Reports surfaced that Khedkar had manipulated both her and her parents’ identities, making it challenging for the UPSC’s Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to detect her excessive attempts.
The UPSC has since reviewed data from over 15,000 candidates who cleared the IAS screening process between 2009 and 2023. Khedkar’s case remains unique, with no other candidates found to have manipulated their attempts to this extent. The Commission is now working on strengthening its SOP to prevent similar instances in the future.
Further investigations unveiled issues with Khedkar’s application, including her inappropriate use of relaxed criteria for OBC candidates and persons with disabilities. Her father, Dilip Khedkar, is under investigation for owning disproportionate assets, while her mother, Manorama Khedkar, was recently arrested for threatening individuals with a firearm.
Sources By Agencies
