Pune: The union government has officially removed Puja Khedkar from the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) with immediate effect.
Puja Khedkar's removal stems from allegations of submitting false information to secure a reserved seat in the 2022 UPSC Civil Services Examination.
This move comes weeks after the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) revoked her provisional selection for the civil service.
According to government regulations, the dismissal of a probationary officer can occur under circumstances such as failure to pass required re-examinations or if the individual is found ineligible or unfit to serve.
On July 31, the UPSC officially annulled her candidature, citing her actions as fraudulent and detrimental to the integrity of the Commission and the public. The agency also sought custodial interrogation to further investigate the scope of the alleged conspiracy.
The controversy surrounding Khedkar began when it was claimed that she provided misleading details to claim reservation benefits under a disability category.
UPSC and Delhi Police have accused her of submitting fraudulent disability certificates, with discrepancies between the documents used in her applications for the 2022 and 2023 exams.
Khedkar has denied all accusations. During a recent hearing, Khedkar expressed her willingness to undergo a medical examination at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) to prove the authenticity of her disability status.
"I am ready for a medical check-up at AIIMS. First, they accuse me of changing my name, now they question my disability. I am willing to cooperate fully," her lawyer has argued in court.
