Puja Khedkar Row: UPSC To Initiate Action As Commission Cancels Her Candidature

In a latest development in Puja Khedkar Row the Union Public Service Commission is poised to take action against former candidate as it cancels her candidature.

UPSC has taken the decision to debar the candidate from future examination and selection following a detail and thorough investigation. The commission has taken the decision in accordance with the rules of Civil Service Examination -2022.

The investigation of the commission has found that she fraudulently availed attempts beyond the  permissible limit under the examination rule. For this, she used fake identity by way of changing her name, her father’s and mother’s name. Except these, photograph/signature, email ID, contact number and address were also forged.

The commission is poised to move forward with criminal proceeding by filing FIR with the police authority against her. The UPSC has also sought to issue a show cause notice for cancellation of her candidature.

Releasing a Presse note on July 19, on Puja Khedkar row, the commission maintained that it strictly adheres its Constitutional mandate and is strict about the observation of the rules.

Notably, Puja Khedkar, a probationary IAS officer had forged with her identity to avail attempts beyond the limit. She is also accused of producing fake disability certificate to reap the reservation benefits meant for disable candidates.

Puja Khedkar was posted as an assistant collector in Pune. The controversy against her sparked when she demanded the facilities not meant for trainee officers and was availing a few of them. The Audi car driven by Puja, which was registered in the name of a private company, used a red-blue beacon. The officer also installed a ‘Maharashtra Government’ board on the private car.

The recent case of IAS probationer Pooja Khedkar has brought shock and disgrace, in equal measure, to the civil services community.