Puja Khedkar, an IAS probationary officer, is under investigation for allegedly misusing the OBC non-creamy layer quota in the UPSC by falsely claiming that her parents were separated and that she lived solely with her mother. The central government has instructed the Pune police to investigate the marital status of Puja's parents, Dilip and Manorama Khedkar, following allegations of document forgery.
During her mock interviews at various academies in Delhi, Puja Khedkar reportedly claimed that her family income was zero due to her parent's divorce and that she lived with her mother. However, it has been noted that her father, a retired government officer, contested the recent Lok Sabha election and declared his property valued at Rs 40 crore.
According to the rules, candidates qualify for the OBC non-creamy layer quota if their parents' income is below Rs 8 lakh per annum. Documents obtained by India Today TV reveal that Dilip and Manorama Khedkar filed for divorce by mutual consent in 2009, with the separation finalized on June 25, 2010. Despite this, evidence suggests that they continued to live together in a bungalow in the Baner area of Pune, which is owned by Manorama Khedkar.
Additional evidence includes an affidavit submitted by Dilip Khedkar during a recent election, where he listed Manorama Khedkar as his wife and detailed shared properties, describing them as part of an undivided Hindu family. The couple has also been observed participating in public events as a married couple.
A criminal case has been filed against Puja Khedkar in Delhi for allegedly falsifying information. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has issued a show-cause notice concerning the potential cancellation of her candidature for the 2022 examination and is contemplating barring her from future exams.
Meanwhile, Manorama Khedkar is currently imprisoned for a case of criminal intimidation, having been arrested by the Pune rural police in 2023 for threatening someone with a gun. Dilip Khedkar is also implicated in the same case and has received interim protection from the Pune court until July 25.
