IAS trainee Puja Khedkar. File photo
| Photo Credit: ANI

The Delhi police are likely to send a notice to IAS probationer Puja Khedkar to join the probe early in a case of cheating and forgery registered against her last week, sources said on Wednesday.

Delhi Police Crime Branch had booked Ms. Khedkar on July 19 for fraudulently obtaining an Other Backward Classes certificate and a Persons with Benchmark Disabilities certificate to clear the Union Public Service Commission examination. The authenticity of various certificates submitted by her to the commission is being probed.

Collecting documents

According to a source, a team led by an Assistant Commissioner of Police has been tasked with collecting relevant documents from various government departments.

After compiling the documents, the police team is likely to issue a notice to the IAS probationer, said the source, adding that they will confront her with the documents she allegedly forged.

Last week, the UPSC took a series of actions, including registering a criminal case against Ms. Khedkar for allegedly forging identity papers, misrepresenting and falsifying facts to attempt the Civil Services Examination (CSE) beyond the prescribed limit.

Additionally, Ms. Khedkar’s probation period was put on hold and she was recalled to Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration in Uttarakhand’s Mussoorie.

The commission has also issued a show-cause notice to cancel her candidature for the CSE and debar her from future examinations and selections. She has also been accused of misusing power and privileges by demanding perks and facilities she was not entitled to.

The 2023-batch IAS officer was posted as a probationary assistant collector at the Pune district collectorate.

Pune:

Trainee IAS officer Puja Khedkar is caught in the middle of a massive controversy over claims she made in her UPSC candidature and alleged misuse of power, which included using unauthorised red beacon lights and a “Government of Maharashtra” sticker on her private Audi sedan. Now, Ms Khedkar’s Audi has become the talking point after Pune Traffic Police pointed out that the car has 21 complaints for traffic violations.  

This includes allegations of reckless driving and non-compliance with traffic rules. Authorities have issued a notice to Puja Khedkar seeking a penalty of Rs 27,000.

“We have come to know that your private vehicle has ‘Maharashtra Government’ written at the front and rear, and also fixed a beacon light,” said the notice, and a police official visited her Pune residence to serve it, but there was nobody at home.

Questions have now arisen regarding why the Pune Police did not take action earlier despite numerous traffic violations.

Ms Khedkar is a 2023-batch IAS officer who secured an all-India rank (AIR) 841 in the UPSC exam. She comes from a family dedicated to public service, with her father, Dilip Khedkar, being a retired administrative officer.

She has been under intense scrutiny for allegedly manipulating benefits under the physical disabilities category and OBC quota to secure her position in the Indian Administrative Service.

Amid the growing controversy, the 24-year-old has been transferred to Washim.

Asked about the allegations against her, Ms Khedkar told reporters, “I am not authorised to speak on the issue. Government rules don’t provide (allow) me to speak on this.”