Centre Sacks Puja Khedkar From IAS With Immediate Effect

New Delhi: The Central government has discharged Puja Manorama Dilip Khedkar, IAS Probationer (MH:2023), from the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) under Rule 12 of IAS (Probation) Rules, 1954, with immediate effect, following the Union Public Service Commission's ( UPSC ) decision to cancel her selection. 

The move comes a month after the UPSC found that Ms. Khedkar had cheated and wrongly claimed benefits under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) and disability quotas.

UPSC 's Investigation Unveils Fraud

The central government, vide order dated September 6, 2024, discharged Khedkar from the Indian Administrative Service under Rule 12 of IAS (Probation) Rules, 1954, with immediate effect, the sources said.

Khedkar, who was from the 2023 batch, has been accused of cheating and wrongly availing Other Backward Classes (OBC) and disability quota benefits to ensure her selection in the government service. She has denied all allegations.

The rules allow the central government to discharge a probationer from service if "he fails to pass the re-examination" or " if the central government is satisfied that the probationer was ineligible for recruitment to the Service or is unsuitable for being a member of the Service", among others.

Khedkar, who was provisionally allotted the Indian Administrative Service ( Maharashtra cadre), was accused of misusing power and privileges during her training in Pune.

Criminal Case and Alleged Misrepresentation

A criminal case was registered against her in July by Delhi Police for "misrepresenting and falsifying facts" following a "thorough investigation" by the UPSC into allegations of misconduct.

Khedkar allegedly manipulated her identity to appear for the civil services examination multiple times, exceeding the permissible attempts, the Commission had found.

On July 31, the UPSC cancelled her candidature secured via the civil services examination 2022 and debarred her from future exams.

The Commission conducts the civil services exam annually in three stages preliminary, main and interview to select officers for the IAS, Indian Foreign Service (IFS) and the Indian Police Service (IPS), among others.

Legal Proceedings and Disability Certificate Scrutiny

Meanwhile, Khedkar on Thursday told the Delhi High Court that she was willing to get herself medically examined at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), after the city police claimed that one of her disability certificates may be "forged" and "fabricated".

She made the submission while the court was dealing with her anticipatory bail plea in the criminal case.

The Delhi Police's probe in the case, registered on the UPSC 's complaint, is continuing. 

(With PTI inputs)