UPSC finally lodges FIR against IAS probationer Puja Khedkar in fake identify case
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The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has finally taken action against IAS probationer Puja Khedkar over her allegedly fraudulent candidature. An FIR for criminal prosecution has been filed against her and a show-cause notice has been issued for cancellation of her candidature of the Civil Services Examination 2022.
She has been accused of faking her identity by allegedly providing wrong addresses and fake disability and back class certificates.
Her father Dilip Khedkar is a retired Maharashtra government officer and Puja Khedkar’s follies have landed her parents too in trouble. Dilip is currently on the run following multiple charges of corruption and misconduct.
Dilip, it has come to light, was suspended twice during his career and is now facing a fresh investigation by the Pune Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) after a complaint was lodged regarding his disproportionate assets.
Suspended in 2018 and 2020, he has come under scrutiny again when a video of his wife Manorama Khedkar threatening workers with a gun at a Pune farm went viral. Following this incident, a case was registered against both Dilip and Manorama.
Manorama is currently in police custody. The ACB is now probing allegations that Dilip’s assets far exceed his known sources of income.
Dilip is learnt to have faced numerous complaints throughout his career. In 2015, 300 small businessmen accused him of extortion and causing unnecessary trouble.
In 2018, while serving as the Regional Officer in Kolhapur, the local saw mill and timber merchants association filed a police complaint alleging that he demanded bribes ranging from Rs 25,000 to Rs 50,000 to restore their power and water supplies.
Further accusations surfaced in 2019 when a complaint alleged that Dilip had demanded Rs 20 lakh from a company. Records indicate that he was absent from his duties for six to seven months without permission on one occasion.
His suspension in 2020 was under Rule 3(1) of the Maharashtra Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1979, and Rule No. 4 of the Maharashtra Civil Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1979, in addition to the Maharashtra Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1983.
The ongoing investigation has also brought attention to the Dilip’s assets, raising questions about the legitimacy of the wealth accumulated. His assets, including land, cars and companies, have been flagged in an ACB complaint. After being questioned for three days, both he and his wife became unreachable, prompting a police search. His wife, however, has been arrested now.
The controversy started after Puja Khedkar, who was recently selected as an IAS officer, allegedly demanded unauthorised perks during probation in Pune. A related complaint was lodged by Pune District Collector Suhas Diwase to Maharashtra Chief Secretary Sujata Saunik, questioning Puja’s demands.
It was revealed that Puja claimed reservation as a person with a disability and an OBC candidate but failed to undergo a mandatory medical check-up to verify her disability.
