Controversial IAS probationer to be dismissed, debarred

Controversial IAS probationer Puja Khedkar faces dismissal from the elite civil services as the Union Public Service Commission UPSC has found that she fraudulently availed attempts beyond the permissible limit under the examination rules by faking her identity by way of changing her name as well as that of her father and mother her photographsignature email ID mobile number and addressThe UPSC has served the officer a showcause notice for cancellation of her candidature of the Civil Services Examination2022 debarment from future examinations selections in accordance with the Rules of the Civil Services Examination 2022 The UPSC said in a statement on Friday that it had conducted a detailed and thorough investigation into the misdemeanour of ldquoMs Puja Manorama Dilip Khedkarrdquo a provisionally recommended candidate of the Civil Services Examination 2022Fraud detectedldquoFrom 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 fatherrsquos and motherrsquos name her photograph signature her email ID mobile number and addressrdquo read the UPSC statementThe UPSC further said it has initiated a series of actions against her including criminal prosecution by filing a first information report FIR with the police authorities and has issued a showcause notice SCN for cancellation of her candidature of the Civil Services Examination 2022 debarment from future examinationsselections in accordance with the Rules of the Civil Services Examination 2022 ldquoIt is categorically stated that in fulfilling its Constitutional obligations the UPSC 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 rulesrdquo the commission addedIt said that the commission has deservedly earned the trust and credibility of a very high order from the public especially the candidates ldquoThe commission is unequivocally committed to ensure that such high order of trust and credibility remains intact and uncompromisedrdquo the statement readRecall to academyOn Tuesday the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration LBSNAA Mussoorie had recalled Khedkar Her district training programme in Washim was stalled midway She was asked to report to the Mussoorie Institute by July 23 Following the UPSC notice she left Washim on Friday Officials there said she hadnrsquot left her room for over three days before departing Two days ago Khedkar had lodged a complaint against Pune Collector Suhas Diwase who was her boss before she was transferred to Washim Diwase had reported her for misconduct in the office and misusing a beacon on her private luxury car and illegally occupying a senior colleaguersquos cabinKhedkar was accused of furnishing false information and questions were raised over her appointment under the Other Backward Class OBC and physically handicapped categories despite being ranked low 821 in the 2022 UPSC civil services examination The Union governmentrsquos Department of Personnel and Training had initiated an inquiry into allegations against Khedkar and set up a singlemember committeeParents face actionAfter absconding Pujarsquos mother Manorama was arrested for brandishing a gun to threaten a farmerrsquos family in Pune district Her father Dilip an exstate pollution board officer has been accused of threatening staff of the Pune collectorate The father faces tax authorities and the police He has reportedly sought anticipatory bail Dilip had shown high income in his Lok Sabha election affidavit blowing the lid off the familyrsquos claim of eligibility under the economically weaker section of the OBC for her appointment Her claims of being physically disabled have been disputed