The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has initiated a series of actions against IAS probationary officer Puja Manorama Dilip Khedkar after the Commission’s investigation 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 & mother’s name, her photograph/ signature, her email ID, mobile number and address.”

In a statement, the UPSC informed that it has filed a “First Information Report (FIR) with the Police Authorities and has issued a Show Cause Notice (SCN) for cancellation of her candidature of the Civil Services Examination-2022/ debarment from future examinations/ selections, in accordance with the Rules of the Civil Services Examination-2022.”

The Maharashtra cadre IAS trainee officer has been in the eye of controversy after a complaint was lodged against her for misusing power which was then followed by speculations on her claims of Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) and Other Backward Classes (OBC) quotas to pass the UPSC exam.

The Commission, in its statement, asserted that it “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. The UPSC has ensured the sanctity and integrity of all its examination processes with the utmost fairness and strict observance of Rules.” It also said that it is committed to maintain the trust and credibility that it has earned from the public, especially the candidates.

Adding to the woe of the Khedkar family, Puja Khedkar’s mother, Manorama Khedkar, was on 18th July 2024 detained and remanded in police custody for two days after an FIR was lodged against her for flaunting a firearm on farmers in Pune district in Maharashtra in June 2023.