The controversy surrounding Puja Khedkar highlights allegations of fraud, forgery, and the misuse of reservation benefits in her application to the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) through the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).
Chronology of Events
2019
- Puja Khedkar secures a visually impaired certificate from
the Ahmednagar District Hospital.
2021
- She obtains a combined disability certificate for visual
impairment and mental illness from the same hospital.
- Earlier, during her admission to an MBBS program, she was
declared completely fit.
February 2022
- Khedkar's application for the Civil Services Examination
(CSE) is denied due to procedural discrepancies.
- She files an affidavit claiming visual and mental
disabilities but fails to attend scheduled medical examinations, resulting in
no relief from the tribunal.
Later in 2022
- Khedkar applies for a locomotor disability certificate at
Yashwantrao Chavan Memorial Hospital, Pimpri, citing an ACL tear in her left
knee.
- Discrepancies emerge, including the use of a fake ration
card and a false address linked to a private company.
2023
- Khedkar clears the UPSC examination with an all-India rank
of 821 under the Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD-5) category.
- She is appointed as an Assistant Collector in Pune.
- March: Files an application with the Central
Administrative Tribunal (CAT) for relaxation under the disability category,
providing inconsistent age details that contradict earlier affidavits.
July 2024
- Accused of demanding unauthorized VIP privileges,
including using a private car with sirens, a government sticker, and special
number plates.
- Demands luxury accommodations, a separate cabin, and
personal assistants, exceeding probationary entitlements.
- Removes a senior officer’s nameplate from the Pune
Collector's office.
- Transferred to Washim district due to mounting
complaints.
- The Union Government establishes a one-member committee to
investigate her selection under the PwBD and OBC quotas.
- Khedkar levels allegations against Pune Collector Suhas
Diwase.
- Files a writ petition in the Aurangabad bench of the Bombay High Court, seeking the transfer of an inquiry pending before Ahmednagar district authorities. The court refuses to entertain the plea, leading her to withdraw the petition.
July 31, 2024
- UPSC cancels her candidature, permanently debars her from
future examinations, and accuses her of faking identity details (name, parental
details, photograph, and address) to exceed the permissible number of attempts.
August 2024
August 1: A Delhi court denies anticipatory bail,
citing the need for custodial interrogation.
-August 12: The Delhi High Court grants interim
protection from arrest.
- August 21: Delhi Police oppose her bail, alleging a
well-planned conspiracy involving others.
- UPSC promises to provide her with the official order
canceling her candidature.
September 2024
- UPSC accuses Khedkar of perjury, claiming she made false
statements regarding biometrics collection.
- The Delhi High Court seeks her response and extends her
interim protection from arrest until October 4.
December 23, 2024
- The Delhi High Court dismisses her anticipatory bail
plea.
- Highlights her actions as a serious fraud against the UPSC
and society.
- Denies her anticipatory bail in a related forgery case, citing strong evidence.
Key Allegations and Misconduct
1. Forgery of Documents
- Disability
certificates (visual impairment, mental illness, locomotor disability).
- OBC non-creamy
layer certificate despite exceeding income thresholds.
- Use of multiple identities (e.g., Khedkar Puja Deeliprao, Puja Manorama Dilip Khedkar), altered parental names, photos, signatures, and contact details to exceed UPSC attempt limits.
2. Misuse of Power
- Demands for undue privileges during probation.
3. Fraud, Forgery, and Perjury
- Misuse of reservation quotas.
Role of Her Parents
Deelip Khedkar (Father)
- Accused of amassing disproportionate assets worth around
₹40 crore, undermining her claims for OBC non-creamy layer benefits.
- Contested the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from Ahmednagar on
a Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi ticket.
- Faced allegations of threatening public servants and involvement in criminal intimidation.
Manorama Khedkar (Mother)
- Arrested for threatening farmers with a gun over a land
dispute, charged under various sections of the IPC and the Arms Act.
- Served as the sarpanch of Bhalgaon village, adding to the family's influence.
The Puja Khedkar controversy underscores systemic
vulnerabilities in the UPSC verification process. The case has led to calls for
stricter scrutiny, questioning public trust in the merit-based civil services
examination system.
