The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) announced on Wednesday that it has cancelled the provisional candidature of trainee IAS officer Puja Khedkar and permanently barred her from all future examinations conducted by the commission. Khedkar was found to have misused the disability and Other Backward Class (OBC) non-creamy layer quotas to secure her candidature in the civil services exam.

Following a comprehensive review of Khedkar's eligibility and application circumstances, the commission determined that she had violated the rules of the Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2022. "UPSC has examined the available records carefully and found her guilty of acting in contravention of the provisions of the CSE-2022 Rules. Her provisional candidature for the CSE-2022 has been cancelled and she has also been debarred permanently from all the future Examinations/Selections of the UPSC," an official statement read.

The UPSC had issued a Show Cause Notice (SCN) to Khedkar on July 18, accusing her of fraudulently exceeding the permissible attempt limit by misrepresenting her identity. Despite extending the deadline to July 30, the commission received no explanation from Khedkar, leading to her permanent debarment.

Khedkar was also under investigation by the Delhi Police Crime Branch for allegedly misusing disability and OBC quotas. A case was registered against her under sections 420 (cheating), 464 (making a document in the name of a fictitious person), 465 (forgery), and 471 (using a forged document as genuine) of the IPC, as well as under sections 89 and 91 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act and section 66D of the Information Technology Act.

Previously serving as a probationary assistant collector in Pune, Khedkar was transferred to Washim amid allegations of misrepresentation under the physical disabilities category. During her tenure in Pune, she reportedly demanded unauthorized perks and facilities. Additionally, her mother, Manorama Khedkar, is currently in judicial custody in connection with a criminal case involving a land dispute.