Controversial IAS Officer Faces Legal Scrutiny Over Exam Misconduct

A criminal case has been registered against probationary IAS officer Puja Khedkar for allegedly misrepresenting and falsifying facts to exceed attempts in the UPSC examination. Following a thorough investigation, the UPSC has issued a show cause notice and filed a complaint with the Delhi Police, citing multiple legal violations.

A criminal case has been registered against controversial probationary IAS officer Puja Khedkar for allegedly misrepresenting and falsifying facts to exceed her permissible attempts in the UPSC civil services examination. According to a statement by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), Khedkar manipulated her identity to appear for the exam multiple times.

The UPSC has issued a show cause notice regarding the cancellation of her candidature for the 2022 examination. The Commission is also considering barring her from future exams. Following this, the UPSC filed a complaint with the Delhi Police, initiating a crime branch investigation.

Officials have indicated charges of forgery, cheating, and misuse of the disability quota in securing her civil services candidacy. The case has been registered under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, the Information Technology Act, and disability laws. The UPSC has emphasised its commitment to integrity and fairness in conducting its examinations.