News18
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The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has filed a First Information Report (FIR) against IAS trainee Puja Khedkar, who is facing allegations of submitting fake certificates to secure her job and asking for special privileges at workplace. News18 reported last week that she could face severe action leading up to termination. The UPSC has issued a show-cause notice, asking why she should not be terminated from the IAS.
Khedkar, a 2023-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Maharashtra cadre, has been accused of faking her caste and medical certificates.
The 34-year-old IAS officer made headlines over her alleged demands for a separate office, staff and quarters — which she is not entitled to as a probationer. Pune police are probing charges that she used a red beacon and an insignia of the Maharashtra government on her private Audi vehicle.
Another major allegation pertains to her disability certificate submitted to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). According to media reports, she told the UPSC that she was visually and mentally challenged, in order to get special concessions in the selection process. But she refused to undergo medical tests on several occasions; even specially abled UPSC aspirants, who crack the prestigious test, are required to undergo medical tests. Subsequently, she submitted an MRI report, which was first rejected and later accepted.
Her claim in job application that she belonged to the Other Backward Classes (OBC) non-creamy layer — which would contribute to her selection — is also under the scanner. Pune RTI activist Vijay Kumbhar has said Khedkar’s father, a retired administrative officer who unsuccessfully fought the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, has assets worth Rs 40 crore. The threshold of annual income for quota under OBC non-creamy layer category is Rs 8 lakh.
Last week, Khedkar was transferred to Washim from Pune, where she was posted as an assistant collector. She secured an all-India rank of 841 in the UPSC exam in 2023, and is currently on a 24-month probationary period.
The 34-year-old IAS officer made headlines over her alleged demands for a separate office, staff and quarters — which she is not entitled to as a probationer. Pune police are probing charges that she used a red beacon and an insignia of the Maharashtra government on her private Audi vehicle.
Another major allegation pertains to her disability certificate submitted to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). According to media reports, she told the UPSC that she was visually and mentally challenged, in order to get special concessions in the selection process. But she refused to undergo medical tests on several occasions; even specially abled UPSC aspirants, who crack the prestigious test, are required to undergo medical tests. Subsequently, she submitted an MRI report, which was first rejected and later accepted.
The Maharashtra government has handed over its report on Khedkar case to the Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT). There were several questions that DoPT had asked the state, responses to which have been submitted. The state has completed the inquiry. Now, the Centre-appointed committee will look into it.