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Puja Khedkar, a controversial IAS probationer, has been discharged from the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) with immediate effect by the Union government. This comes weeks after the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) cancelled her provisional candidature, citing serious allegations of cheating and misusing benefits under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) and disability quotas.
Khedkar's discharge was executed under Rule 12 of the IAS (Probation) Rules, 1954, which allows the central government to remove probationers from service for various reasons, including failing to pass re-examinations or if they are deemed ineligible or unsuitable for the position. The allegations against Khedkar stem from her application for the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2022, where she is accused of misrepresenting information to secure reservation benefits.
Both the UPSC and the Delhi Police have alleged that Khedkar submitted forged disability certificates, using different documents for the 2022 and 2023 exams. The UPSC, which cancelled Khedkar's candidature on July 31, labeled her actions as fraud against the Commission and the public, emphasizing the need for her custodial interrogation to fully expose the extent of the conspiracy. Khedkar, however, has denied all allegations.
In a recent development, Khedkar expressed her willingness to undergo a medical examination at AIIMS in the Delhi High Court, where she was seeking anticipatory bail in the criminal case. This came after the Delhi Police claimed that one of her disability certificates might be forged or fabricated. Khedkar's legal troubles highlight the serious consequences of manipulating government processes for personal gain and emphasize the importance of upholding ethical standards within public service.
Source: Puja Khedkar dismissed from IAS weeks after UPSC cancelled her selection