Centre Discharges Puja Khedkar From Indian Administrative Service With Immediate Effect

New Delhi: The central government has discharged Puja Khedkar, former probationary civil servant, from the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) with immediate effect, official sources said on Saturday. Khedkar has been accused of cheating and wrongly availing Other Backward Classes (OBC) and disability quota benefits to verify her selection within the service. She has denied all allegations.

The central government, vide order dated September 6, 2024, discharged Khedkar from the Indian Administrative Service below Rule 12 of IAS (Probation) Rules, 1954, with immediate effect, the sources said.

The rules allow the central government to discharge probationers from service in the event that they fail “to pass the re-examination…” or “if the central government is satisfied that the probationer became ineligible for recruitment to the Service or is unsuitable for being a member of the Service”, among others.

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) had on July 31 cancelled her candidature and debarred her from future exams. Khedkar became serving as a probationary IAS officer in her cadre state Maharashtra.

Willing To Get Disability Examined In AIIMS, ex-IAS probationer Puja Khedkar Tells Delhi HC

Former IAS probationer Puja Khedkar on Thursday told Delhi High Court she became willing to get herself medically examined in AIIMS, after town police claimed that one of her disability certificates may perhaps be “forged” and “fabricated”.

Khedkar, who has been accused of cheating and wrongly availing Other Backward Classes (OBC) and disability quota benefits, made the submission while the court became handling her anticipatory bail plea within the criminal case.

“I'm willing to get myself medically examined. First they are saying I changed my name. Now they are saying disability is questionable. I'm willing to head to AIIMS,” the senior counsel appearing for Khedkar said.

Justice Subramonium Prasad listed the matter for further hearing on September 26, recording that the police have prayed for 10 more days for further investigation. Khedkar’s period in-between protection of arrest granted by the high court will continue till then.

The Delhi Police counsel argued that Khedkar “concealed facts” while attempting the civil services and products examination that she became otherwise now now not eligible to jot down.

Khedkar’s senior lawyer claimed that the police have now now not pressed for her custodial interrogation in its status report filed within the matter, and the same became anyway now now not required as all records were accessible with the authorities.

The police said her custody became important to unearth the “conspiracy” and the alternative persons involved. Khedkar allegedly misrepresented information in her application for the usa Civil Products and services Examination, 2022 to get reservation benefits.

(With inputs from agencies)