The Union Public Services Commission has filed an FIR against controversial probationary IAS officer Puja Khedkar, days after the Centre decided to probe allegations of her misconduct and misuse of a quota. The UPSC has sought the cancellation of her candidature and also issued her a showcause notice, asking why she must not be debarred from future exams.

Newslaundry had earlier detailed the allegations against Khedkar.

From using a red-and-blue beacon on her Audi, to clearing exams under the “visually impaired” quota while bypassing mandatory medical tests to prove her “disability”, to occupying a senior officer’s chamber without authorisation, her actions had not just attracted media attention but also raised serious questions about her selection and conduct as an IAS officer.

Khedkar, a 2022 batch officer, had been assigned to the Pune collectorate on June 3, 2024 as an assistant collector on probation. But her tenure was marred by acts of indiscipline and inappropriate demands, prompting Suhas Diwase, the district collector, to send a 25-page report to Nitin Gadre, the additional chief secretary. 

“UPSC has, initiated a series of actions against her, including Criminal Prosecution by filing an 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,” an official statement read.

“The UPSC conducted a detailed and thorough investigation into the misdemeanour of Puja Manorama Dilip Khedkar, a provisionally recommended candidate for the Civil Services Examination 2022. From this investigation it has been 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 and mother’s name, her photograph/ signature, her email ID, mobile number and address.”