UPSC Files FIR Against Controversial IAS Trainee Puja Khedkar for Identity Fraud

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has filed a First Information Report (FIR) against controversial Indian Administrative Service (IAS) Trainee Puja Khedkar for committing identity fraud while appearing for Civil Services Examination (CSE) in 2021 and 2022. 

The probationer IAS Khedkar was posted in Maharashtra until last week before being summoned to the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy For Administration (LBSNAA). The academy is said to have initiated an inquiry into allegations of Khedkar having used illegal means to acquire Person with Benchmark Disability (PwBD) as well as Other Backward Class (OBC) Non-Creamy Layer certificate. 

Khedkar had doubly benefitted by claiming reservation under PwBD as well as OBC categories in UPSC CSE 2021 and 2022. While Khedkar wasn’t allocated any service despite clearing CSE 2021 for reportedly not appearing for medical tests to verify her disability claims, she was allocated IAS and placed in her home cadre Maharashtra after clearing CSE 2022.

After claims of her fraud surfaced early in July, UPSC, Union Government’s Department of Personnel and Training as well as LBSNAA had initiated separate probes.

According to a statement released by the UPSC, the constitutional body's probe revealed that Khedkar had exceeded the permissible number of attempts by manipulating her identity through various means, including altering her name, her parents' names, photograph, signature, email ID, mobile number, and address.

In light of these findings, the UPSC said that it has filed an FIR with the police and issued a Show Cause Notice (SCN) to Khedkar. An unsatisfactory response to this SCN could lead to the cancellation of her candidature for the Civil Services Examination-2022 and her debarment from future examinations and selections.

“The UPSC stringently adheres to its Constitutional mandate, and conducts all its processes, including all examinations, with the highest possible order of due diligence without any compromise. The UPSC has ensured the sanctity and integrity of all its examination processes with the utmost fairness and strict observance of Rules.

It has deservedly earned the trust and credibility of a very high order from the public, especially the candidates. The Commission is unequivocally committed to ensure that such high order of trust and credibility remains intact and uncompromised,” the UPSC press release said.