NEW DELHI: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on Wednesday cancelled the provisional candidature of Puja Khedkar, who was facing accusations of cheating and forgery.
The UPSC found Puja Khedkar of violating rules and debarred her from all the future exams and selections.
“The 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,” the government said in a statement.
UPSC also said that in lone case of Khedkar, it could not detect her number of attempts primarily due to the fact that “she changed not only her name but also her parents’ name”. The UPSC affirmed that it is in the process of further strengthening the SOP to ensure that such a case does not recur in the future.
“In the backdrop of the case of Ms. Puja Manorama Dilip Khedkar, the UPSC has thoroughly examined the available data of more than 15,000 finally recommended candidates of the CSEs from the year 2009 to 2023 i.e. for 15 years with respect to the number of attempts availed by them. After this detailed exercise, barring the case of Puja Manorama Dilip Khedkar, no other candidate has been found to have availed more number of attempts than permitted under the CSE Rules”, the statement added.
What was the controversy?
Puja Khedekar, 34, had come under intense media scrutiny following allegations of demanding a separate office and official car, along with the unauthorised use of a beacon on her private Audi car. Initially stationed in Pune, Khedkar was transferred to Washim by the Pune district collector amidst the controversy. However, her troubles did not end there.
The government had subsequently put her ‘district training program’ on hold, summoning her back to the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) in Mussoorie for “necessary action.” Khedkar, who was under investigation for the authenticity of her disability and OBC certificates, claims she has become a victim of misinformation and “fake news.”
The UPSC found Puja Khedkar of violating rules and debarred her from all the future exams and selections.
“The 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,” the government said in a statement.
UPSC also said that in lone case of Khedkar, it could not detect her number of attempts primarily due to the fact that “she changed not only her name but also her parents’ name”. The UPSC affirmed that it is in the process of further strengthening the SOP to ensure that such a case does not recur in the future.
“In the backdrop of the case of Ms. Puja Manorama Dilip Khedkar, the UPSC has thoroughly examined the available data of more than 15,000 finally recommended candidates of the CSEs from the year 2009 to 2023 i.e. for 15 years with respect to the number of attempts availed by them. After this detailed exercise, barring the case of Puja Manorama Dilip Khedkar, no other candidate has been found to have availed more number of attempts than permitted under the CSE Rules”, the statement added.
What was the controversy?
Puja Khedekar, 34, had come under intense media scrutiny following allegations of demanding a separate office and official car, along with the unauthorised use of a beacon on her private Audi car. Initially stationed in Pune, Khedkar was transferred to Washim by the Pune district collector amidst the controversy. However, her troubles did not end there.
The government had subsequently put her ‘district training program’ on hold, summoning her back to the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) in Mussoorie for “necessary action.” Khedkar, who was under investigation for the authenticity of her disability and OBC certificates, claims she has become a victim of misinformation and “fake news.”