UPSC files FIR, show-cause notice against probationary IAS officer Puja Khedkar

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on Friday (July 19) filed a First Information Report (FIR) and issued a show cause notice to Indian Administrative Services (IAS) probationer Puja Khedkar.

The show cause notice was issued for cancellation of Khedkar's candidature of "the Civil Services Examination-2022/ debarment from future examinations/ selections, in accordance with the Rules of the Civil Services Examination-2022."

The investigation by UPSC

The UPSC said that it carried out a thorough investigation into Khedkar's misdemeanour.

"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 & mother’s name, her photograph/ signature, her email ID, mobile number and address," the examination body said in a statement.

Puja's mother arrested

The above developments came a day after a local court in the Indian city ofPune remanded Khedkar's mother Manorma in police custody until July 20. A report by the news agency ANI said that Manorma was arrestedon Thursday for allegedly threatening a person with a gun over a land dispute in June last year.

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Following the arrest, she wasproduced before the Judicial Magistrate Court in Pune with a request for seven days of police custody.

The prosecution has informed the court that Section 307 (attempt to murder) of the Indian Penal Code was added to the FIR registered against Manorama along with other sections related to unlawful assembly, rioting, criminal intimidation, and the Arms Act.

(With inputs from agencies)