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

A First Information Report (FIR) was filed against the parents of probationary IAS officer Puja Khedkar, who has been embroiled in controversy over alleged misuse of power. Puja Khedkar's parents Dilip Khedkar and Manorama Khedkar are accused of threatening farmers in Maharashtra's Pune with a firearm.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/video-emerges-of-ias-officer-puja-khedkars-mother-allegedly-threatening-farmer-with-gun-in-pune-740173">Video: IAS officer Puja Khedkar's mother allegedly threatening farmer with gun in Pune</a>

According to reports, the FIR is based on a complaint filed by a farmer who accused Puja Khedkar's mother Manorama Khedkar 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.

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">Who is Pooja Khedkar? IAS trainee who made VIP demands, transferred</a>

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.

The altercation reportedly centred around a piece of land purchased by Puja Khedkar's father, a retired Maharashtra government officer, in Dhadwali village within Pune's Mulshi tehsil.

Local residents claimed that the Khedkar family had encroached upon land belonging to neighbouring farmers. Kuldeep Pasalkar, one of the affected farmers, alleged, "She visited my plot with security guards and threatened us while holding a firearm."

In response to the viral video, Pune Rural Police announced an investigation to determine whether Manorama Khedkar possessed a valid license for the firearm.&nbsp;

"We are examining the video circulating on social media platforms. Once verified, we will commence our investigation and verify the firearm's licensing status," stated a senior Pune Rural police official, Indian news agency Press Trust of India reported.

The controversy surrounding Puja Khedkar and her family has sparked widespread public interest and continues to raise questions about alleged misuse of authority and property disputes.&nbsp;

Further developments are awaited as authorities continue their investigation into the matter.

(With inputs from agencies)

A First Information Report (FIR) was filed against the parents of probationary IAS officer Puja Khedkar, who has been embroiled in controversy over alleged misuse of power.

A First Information Report (FIR) was filed against the parents of probationary IAS officer Puja Khedkar, who has been embroiled in controversy over alleged misuse of power. Puja Khedkar's parents Dilip Khedkar and Manorama Khedkar are accused of threatening farmers in Maharashtra's Pune with a firearm. Also read | Video: IAS officer Puja Khedkar's mother allegedly threatening farmer with gun in Pune According to reports, the FIR is based on a complaint filed by a farmer who accused Puja Khedkar's mother Manorama Khedkar 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. Also read | Who is Pooja Khedkar? IAS trainee who made VIP demands, transferred 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. The altercation reportedly centred around a piece of land purchased by Puja Khedkar's father, a retired Maharashtra government officer, in Dhadwali village within Pune's Mulshi tehsil. Local residents claimed that the Khedkar family had encroached upon land belonging to neighbouring farmers. Kuldeep Pasalkar, one of the affected farmers, alleged, "She visited my plot with security guards and threatened us while holding a firearm." In response to the viral video, Pune Rural Police announced an investigation to determine whether Manorama Khedkar possessed a valid license for the firearm. "We are examining the video circulating on social media platforms. Once verified, we will commence our investigation and verify the firearm's licensing status," stated a senior Pune Rural police official, Indian news agency Press Trust of India reported. The controversy surrounding Puja Khedkar and her family has sparked widespread public interest and continues to raise questions about alleged misuse of authority and property disputes. Further developments are awaited as authorities continue their investigation into the matter. (With inputs from agencies)

Disgraced IAS officer Puja Khedkar's mother under fire for brandishing gun at farmers

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.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/harry-potter-famed-snake-turns-into-reality-in-indias-national-park-see-pics-739645">Harry Potter-fame snake found in ‘real life’ at national park in India. See pics</a>

"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