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<p>A Delhi court rejected the request for anticipatory bail from Puja Khedkar, a former Indian Administrative Service (IAS)&nbsp;trainee, on Thursday (August 1). The Union Public Service Commission has&nbsp;already cancelled her candidature and also barred her from taking any future exams.</p>

<p>The ex-trainee was accused of lying about her disabilities and falsifying her identity. This included altering her parents' names and forging a certificate to claim 'non-creamy layer' OBC status to clear the Civil Services entrance exam.</p>

<p>"Police are directed to find out if candidates recommended in recent past availed benefits beyond permissible age limit under OBC (Other Backward Classes) quota and PwD (Persons with benchmark Disabilities) benefits... despite not being entitled to it," Additional Sessions Judge Devender Kumar Jangala said.</p>

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<p>"Police should find out if UPSC (the Union Public Service Commission, a central body that conducts the exam) officials helped her," he added.</p>
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<p>Khedkar has not been arrested yet but is facing charges of cheating and forgery. She moved the court for pre-arrest bail in a case where she was accused of faking her identity to gain extra attempts at the UPSC examination.</p>

<h2><strong>UPSC cancels Puja Khedkar's candidature</strong></h2>

<p>UPSC cancelled Khedkar's candidature on Wednesday (July 31), saying,&nbsp;"UPSC has examined the available records carefully and found her guilty of acting in contravention of the provisions of the CSE-2022 Rules. Her provisional candidature for the CSE-2022 has been cancelled and she has also been debarred permanently from all the future Examinations/Selections of the UPSC."</p>

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<p>The central body said that Khedkar received a notice for "fraudulently availing attempts, beyond the permissible limit provided for in the examination rules, by faking her identity."</p>

<p>UPSC said that it had checked data from 15,000 candidates between 2009 and 2023 "with respect to number of attempts availed by them" and found no other rule violations.</p>

<p>"In the lone case of Ms Puja Manorama Dilip Khedkar, the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) of the UPSC could not detect her number of attempts primarily because she changed not only her name but also her parents’ name. The UPSC is in the process of further strengthening the SOP to ensure that such a case does not recur in the future,” UPSC added.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


A Delhi court rejected the request for anticipatory bail from Puja Khedkar, a former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) trainee, on Thursday (August 1). The Union Public Service Commission has already cancelled her candidature and also barred her from taking any future exams.

A Delhi court rejected the request for anticipatory bail from Puja Khedkar, a former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) trainee, on Thursday (August 1). The Union Public Service Commission has already cancelled her candidature and also barred her from taking any future exams. The ex-trainee was accused of lying about her disabilities and falsifying her identity. This included altering her parents' names and forging a certificate to claim 'non-creamy layer' OBC status to clear the Civil Services entrance exam. "Police are directed to find out if candidates recommended in recent past availed benefits beyond permissible age limit under OBC (Other Backward Classes) quota and PwD (Persons with benchmark Disabilities) benefits... despite not being entitled to it," Additional Sessions Judge Devender Kumar Jangala said. Watch | India: IMD issues 'red alert' for Delhi-NCR after heavy rains × "Police should find out if UPSC (the Union Public Service Commission, a central body that conducts the exam) officials helped her," he added. Khedkar has not been arrested yet but is facing charges of cheating and forgery. She moved the court for pre-arrest bail in a case where she was accused of faking her identity to gain extra attempts at the UPSC examination. UPSC cancels Puja Khedkar's candidature UPSC cancelled Khedkar's candidature on Wednesday (July 31), saying, "UPSC has examined the available records carefully and found her guilty of acting in contravention of the provisions of the CSE-2022 Rules. Her provisional candidature for the CSE-2022 has been cancelled and she has also been debarred permanently from all the future Examinations/Selections of the UPSC." Also read: Supreme Court of India backs sub-classification for SCs and STs in 6:1 verdict The central body said that Khedkar received a notice for "fraudulently availing attempts, beyond the permissible limit provided for in the examination rules, by faking her identity." UPSC said that it had checked data from 15,000 candidates between 2009 and 2023 "with respect to number of attempts availed by them" and found no other rule violations. "In the lone case of Ms Puja Manorama Dilip Khedkar, the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) of the UPSC could not detect her number of attempts primarily because she changed not only her name but also her parents’ name. The UPSC is in the process of further strengthening the SOP to ensure that such a case does not recur in the future,” UPSC added. (With inputs from agencies)

Delhi court denies pre-arrest bail to ex-IAS trainee Puja Khedkar in UPSC identity fraud case

<p>Under-fire IAS probationary officer Puja Khedkar's father Dilip Khedkar has come to her defence amid questions surrounding her selection. Dilip, a retired bureaucrat&nbsp;from Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) claimed his daughter was a victim of conspiracy hatched to target his family.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Dilip also doubled down on the legitimacy of Puja's alleged fake disability certificate by claiming it was correct.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“There are many kinds of disabilities. Puja suffers from vision impairment, which is more than 40 per cent. Therefore she fulfils 40 per cent&nbsp;criteria of the disability,” Dilip was quoted as saying by the&nbsp;<em>Hindustan Times.</em></p>

<p>"Medical experts on a panel had verified her disabilities before issuing the certificate," he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The former 'babu' stated that his daughter also had a "certain category of mental illness which was verified by medical professionals before the disability certificate was issued”.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/who-is-pune-ias-officer-pooja-khedkar-ias-trainee-who-made-vip-demands-739564" target="_blank">Who is Pooja Khedkar? IAS trainee who made VIP demands, transferred</a></strong></p>

<h2><strong>FIR filed against Khedkar's parents</strong></h2>

<p>Dilip's statement came after a First Information Report (FIR) was filed against him and his wife,&nbsp;Manorama Khedkar after they were accused of threatening farmers in Maharashtra's Pune with a firearm.</p>

<p>According to reports, the FIR is based on a complaint filed by a farmer who accused Manorama of threatening him with a firearm, alongside five others.</p>

<p>"The FIR has been registered under sections 323, 504, 506 of the Indian Penal Code, with additional charges under the Arms Act," Manoj Yadav, senior police inspector at Paud Police Station in Pune, was quoted as saying by the news agency <em>ANI.</em></p>

<p>The incident gained public attention after a video went viral. The viral video showed Manorama Khedkar brandishing a gun and engaging in a heated altercation with a group of individuals.</p>

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<h2><strong>Audi&nbsp;confiscated&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>A day after the FIR, the Pune police on Sunday (Jul 14) confiscated&nbsp;a private luxury car used by the controversial trainee officer.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Notably, the Audi car was impounded and&nbsp;brought to Chaturshrangi Police Station after the Pune Regional Transport Office (RTO) had issued a notice to a city-based private company, which is the registered owner of the luxury car that Khedkar used during her posting.</p>

<p>The German car has been barricaded at the traffic division of the police station as the probe gets underway.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"A notice was issued on Thursday against the unauthorised use of a beacon and name sign on the private sedan Khedkar had been using. The car now has been confiscated, its documents will be checked and we are probing the matter further," a senior police official said.</p>

<p>The controversy surrounding Puja's misuse of power has sparked widespread outrage over the institution of 'civil servants' running the country. It also raises questions over the authority of UPSC - a constitutional body that conducts the recruitment of officers to All India Services.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Under-fire IAS probationary officer Puja Khedkar's father Dilip Khedkar has come to her defence amid questions surrounding her selection. Dilip, a retired bureaucrat from Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) claimed his daughter was a victim of conspiracy hatched to target his family.

Under-fire IAS probationary officer Puja Khedkar's father Dilip Khedkar has come to her defence amid questions surrounding her selection. Dilip, a retired bureaucrat from Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) claimed his daughter was a victim of conspiracy hatched to target his family. Dilip also doubled down on the legitimacy of Puja's alleged fake disability certificate by claiming it was correct. “There are many kinds of disabilities. Puja suffers from vision impairment, which is more than 40 per cent. Therefore she fulfils 40 per cent criteria of the disability,” Dilip was quoted as saying by the Hindustan Times. "Medical experts on a panel had verified her disabilities before issuing the certificate," he added. The former 'babu' stated that his daughter also had a "certain category of mental illness which was verified by medical professionals before the disability certificate was issued”. Also read | Who is Pooja Khedkar? IAS trainee who made VIP demands, transferred FIR filed against Khedkar's parents Dilip's statement came after a First Information Report (FIR) was filed against him and his wife, Manorama Khedkar after they were accused of threatening farmers in Maharashtra's Pune with a firearm. According to reports, the FIR is based on a complaint filed by a farmer who accused Manorama of threatening him with a firearm, alongside five others. "The FIR has been registered under sections 323, 504, 506 of the Indian Penal Code, with additional charges under the Arms Act," Manoj Yadav, senior police inspector at Paud Police Station in Pune, was quoted as saying by the news agency ANI. The incident gained public attention after a video went viral. The viral video showed Manorama Khedkar brandishing a gun and engaging in a heated altercation with a group of individuals. Watch | India budget 2024-25: Calls for simplified tax regime gain momentum × Audi confiscated A day after the FIR, the Pune police on Sunday (Jul 14) confiscated a private luxury car used by the controversial trainee officer. Notably, the Audi car was impounded and brought to Chaturshrangi Police Station after the Pune Regional Transport Office (RTO) had issued a notice to a city-based private company, which is the registered owner of the luxury car that Khedkar used during her posting. The German car has been barricaded at the traffic division of the police station as the probe gets underway. "A notice was issued on Thursday against the unauthorised use of a beacon and name sign on the private sedan Khedkar had been using. The car now has been confiscated, its documents will be checked and we are probing the matter further," a senior police official said. The controversy surrounding Puja's misuse of power has sparked widespread outrage over the institution of 'civil servants' running the country. It also raises questions over the authority of UPSC - a constitutional body that conducts the recruitment of officers to All India Services. (With inputs from agencies)

'Puja suffers...': Under fire IAS oficer Puja Khedkar's bureaucrat father comes to her rescue

<p>The Union Public Service Commission had received an affidavit from Puja Khedkar, a Civil Services officer on probation, claiming to be mentally and visually challenged to receive concessions during the selection process.</p>

<p>She later declined to take the&nbsp;necessary medical exam six times to establish her disability, said reports. Given that she declined to take the exam, it is unclear how or why she got appointed.</p>

<p>According to unconfirmed reports, the first test was scheduled&nbsp;for April 2022 at Delhi's All India Institute of Medical Sciences. She missed it, stating she had tested positive for COVID-19.</p>

<p>She also skipped two appointments in July and August, as well as in the following two months. She did not show up for an MRI exam to evaluate her visual loss, and she just partially attended the sixth exam in September.</p>

<p>The Commission then disputed her appointment, and a panel decided against her in February 2023. Despite this, she was able to get her civil service post reaffirmed.</p>

<p>Khedkar's claim to the OBC, or Other Backward Classes, category is also being questioned.</p>

<p>It is alleged that the falsified statements and the allowances obtained through them enabled Khedkar to pass the highly competitive Civil Services Exam despite achieving a relatively low all-India rank of 841.</p>

<p>After her 'exploits' were exposed—including using a siren on her private Audi luxury sedan—Khedkar was transferred from Pune to Washim. Pune Collector Suhas Divase had written to the Chief Secretary of the Maharashtra government to request Puja Khedkar's reassignment.</p>

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<p>"The 2023 batch IAS officer will serve the remaining period of her probation as Supernumerary Assistant Collector in Washim district," the order stated.</p>

<p>Other than having a 'Government of Maharashtra' sticker, VIP number plates, and a siren on her&nbsp;car,&nbsp;Khedkar was also found using the office when Ajay More, the Pune Additional Collector, was gone. It is said that she took down his nameplate, relocated his furniture, and even insisted on letterheads.</p>

<p>Junior officers are on a 24-month probationary period and are not eligible for any of these benefits. According to reports, her father, a retired administrative officer, pushed for her requests to be met.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Khedkar, who hails from Ahmednagar, is an IAS officer from the 2023 batch.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The Union Public Service Commission had received an affidavit from Puja Khedkar, a Civil Services officer on probation, claiming to be mentally and visually challenged to receive concessions during the selection process.

The Union Public Service Commission had received an affidavit from Puja Khedkar, a Civil Services officer on probation, claiming to be mentally and visually challenged to receive concessions during the selection process. She later declined to take the necessary medical exam six times to establish her disability, said reports. Given that she declined to take the exam, it is unclear how or why she got appointed. According to unconfirmed reports, the first test was scheduled for April 2022 at Delhi's All India Institute of Medical Sciences. She missed it, stating she had tested positive for COVID-19. She also skipped two appointments in July and August, as well as in the following two months. She did not show up for an MRI exam to evaluate her visual loss, and she just partially attended the sixth exam in September. The Commission then disputed her appointment, and a panel decided against her in February 2023. Despite this, she was able to get her civil service post reaffirmed. Khedkar's claim to the OBC, or Other Backward Classes, category is also being questioned. It is alleged that the falsified statements and the allowances obtained through them enabled Khedkar to pass the highly competitive Civil Services Exam despite achieving a relatively low all-India rank of 841. After her 'exploits' were exposed—including using a siren on her private Audi luxury sedan—Khedkar was transferred from Pune to Washim. Pune Collector Suhas Divase had written to the Chief Secretary of the Maharashtra government to request Puja Khedkar's reassignment. Also read: Harry Potter-fame snake found in ‘real life’ at national park in India. See pics "The 2023 batch IAS officer will serve the remaining period of her probation as Supernumerary Assistant Collector in Washim district," the order stated. Other than having a 'Government of Maharashtra' sticker, VIP number plates, and a siren on her car, Khedkar was also found using the office when Ajay More, the Pune Additional Collector, was gone. It is said that she took down his nameplate, relocated his furniture, and even insisted on letterheads. Junior officers are on a 24-month probationary period and are not eligible for any of these benefits. According to reports, her father, a retired administrative officer, pushed for her requests to be met. Khedkar, who hails from Ahmednagar, is an IAS officer from the 2023 batch. (With inputs from agencies)

Pune trainee IAS, who used siren on private car, claimed visual, mental disability; later dodged medical exams