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

Manorama Khedkar, the controversial probationary IAS officer Puja Khedkar's mother, was taken into custody by the rural police in the Indian city of Pune on Thursday (July 18) in connection with a complaint claiming she had threatened farmers with a gun.

Manorama was arrested at the Paud police station after being brought into custody from the Mahad region in the Raigad district. According to the police, she will be produced in court later.

On July 12, an FIR was filed at the Paud police station against Puja's mother, father Diliprao Khedkar, people of the National Housing Society in Baner, Ambadas Khedkar of Ambi village in Haveli, and others. This was in response to a complaint made by farmer Pandharinath Pasalkar, 65.&nbsp;

Manorama and the other accused were arrested by the police on charges of violating the Arms Act and sections 323, 504, 506, 143, 144, 147, 148, and 149 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

The FIR was filed after a video of Manorama pointing a gun at a farmer appeared on social media.

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In the video, Manorama, along with several bouncers, is seen holding a pistol and arguing with a farmer who seems to oppose her farming on disputed land. The incident reportedly occurred on June 5, 2023, in Dhadawali village, Mulshi tehsil, Pune.

Puja's mother received a show-cause notice from Pune City Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar on July 13 requesting her to explain why her gun&nbsp;licence should not be revoked.&nbsp;

In the notice, Kumar stated that Manorama allegedly violated gun licence regulations and that her irresponsible actions could potentially threaten public safety. Therefore, she is deemed unfit to hold a gun licence.

The Pune police commissioner requested Manorama to reply to the show cause notice within 10 days, or they would start the process of revoking her gun license.

This comes as her daughter, Puja&nbsp;is under investigation for her actions during her time at the Pune district Collectorate, including the alleged misuse of OBC and PwBD quotas to pass the UPSC Civil Services Examination.

(With inputs from agencies)

Manorama Khedkar, the controversial probationary IAS officer Puja Khedkar's mother, was taken into custody by the rural police in the Indian city of Pune on Thursday (July 18) in connection with a complaint claiming she had threatened farmers with a gun.

Manorama Khedkar, the controversial probationary IAS officer Puja Khedkar's mother, was taken into custody by the rural police in the Indian city of Pune on Thursday (July 18) in connection with a complaint claiming she had threatened farmers with a gun. Manorama was arrested at the Paud police station after being brought into custody from the Mahad region in the Raigad district. According to the police, she will be produced in court later. On July 12, an FIR was filed at the Paud police station against Puja's mother, father Diliprao Khedkar, people of the National Housing Society in Baner, Ambadas Khedkar of Ambi village in Haveli, and others. This was in response to a complaint made by farmer Pandharinath Pasalkar, 65. Manorama and the other accused were arrested by the police on charges of violating the Arms Act and sections 323, 504, 506, 143, 144, 147, 148, and 149 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The FIR was filed after a video of Manorama pointing a gun at a farmer appeared on social media. Also read: Usha, wife of JD Vance, faces racist attacks from white supremacists In the video, Manorama, along with several bouncers, is seen holding a pistol and arguing with a farmer who seems to oppose her farming on disputed land. The incident reportedly occurred on June 5, 2023, in Dhadawali village, Mulshi tehsil, Pune. Puja's mother received a show-cause notice from Pune City Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar on July 13 requesting her to explain why her gun licence should not be revoked. In the notice, Kumar stated that Manorama allegedly violated gun licence regulations and that her irresponsible actions could potentially threaten public safety. Therefore, she is deemed unfit to hold a gun licence. The Pune police commissioner requested Manorama to reply to the show cause notice within 10 days, or they would start the process of revoking her gun license. This comes as her daughter, Puja is under investigation for her actions during her time at the Pune district Collectorate, including the alleged misuse of OBC and PwBD quotas to pass the UPSC Civil Services Examination. (With inputs from agencies)

IAS trainee Puja Khedkar’s mother arrested for allegedly threatening farmers with gun

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&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.

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.

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.

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"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&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.

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;

Khedkar, who hails from Ahmednagar, is an IAS officer from the 2023 batch.

(With inputs from agencies)

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