The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has undertaken a comprehensive investigation into the misconduct of Ms. Puja Manorama Dilip Khedkar, a provisionally recommended candidate for the Civil Services Examination-2022. The investigation revealed that she had fraudulently exceeded the permissible number of attempts by manipulating her identity. This included altering her name, her parents’ names, her photograph, signature, email ID, mobile number, and address.
As a result, the UPSC has initiated multiple actions against Ms. Khedkar, including filing a First Information Report (FIR) with the police and issuing a Show Cause Notice (SCN) to cancel her candidature for the Civil Services Examination-2022 and to bar her from future examinations and selections, as per the Examination Rules.
Puja Khedkar, a probationary IAS officer from the 2022 batch, has been at the center of a controversy in Pune, leading to her abrupt transfer to Washim district in central Maharashtra. She was posted as an assistant collector in Pune.She secured an All India Rank of 821 under the Physical Disability (PWD-5) category in the UPSC exams.
The controversy started after she was making VIP demands, including the use of her private Audi car fitted with a red-blue beacon light and VIP number plate, along with a ‘Maharashtra government’ board affixed to the vehicle. According to reports, Khedkar had also sought separate accommodation, a cabin, car, residential quarters, and a peon even before officially joining her duties on June 3. However, authorities informed her that such privileges were not applicable during her probationary period, and that accommodation would be provided accordingly.
