The central government has discharged Puja Khedkar from the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) with immediate effect. This decision follows accusations that Khedkar engaged in cheating and wrongfully used Other Backward Classes (OBC) and disability quota benefits to secure her IAS position. Khedkar has denied all allegations.
According to the order issued on September 6, 2024, Khedkar’s discharge was executed under Rule 12 of the IAS (Probation) Rules, 1954. This rule permits the central government to dismiss probationers if they fail “to pass the re-examination” or if the government deems them “ineligible for recruitment to the Service or unsuitable for being a member of the Service,” among other reasons.
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) had canceled Khedkar’s candidature on July 31 and barred her from future examinations. Khedkar, who was serving as a probationary IAS officer in Maharashtra, faced additional legal challenges as the UPSC and Delhi Police opposed her anticipatory bail plea. They argued that granting her bail could obstruct the investigation into the “deep-rooted conspiracy” and undermine public trust and the integrity of the civil services examination.
Earlier controversies surrounding Khedkar included allegations of demanding a separate office and official car, as well as unauthorized use of a beacon on her private Audi. Initially stationed in Pune, she was later transferred to Washim by the Pune district collector amid the ongoing scrutiny. Her ‘district training program’ was subsequently put on hold, and she was summoned back to the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) in Mussoorie for further action.
Khedkar has claimed that she is a victim of misinformation and “fake news” regarding her disability and OBC certificates.
