Fake caste and disability certificates; Pooja Khedkar dismissed from Indian Administrative Service

NEW DELHI: The central government has dismissed Pooja Khedkar from the Indian Administrative Service. This was reported by the national media citing high sources. The action is based on submitting a fake document to write the civil service exam. Pooja's selection was canceled by UPSC earlier.

An earlier investigation had found that Khedkar had used fake OBC certificates and fake disability certificates to get preference in the civil services examination. She is also accused of cheating. The UPSC had also found that she had appeared for the exam several times by forging her personal information. The Centre's action was followed by this. Pooja is a 2023-batch IAS officer of the Maharashtra cadre.

Meanwhile, more complaints against Pooja have come to light. The Navi Mumbai police has submitted a report to the Maharashtra government alleging that a DCP-rank police officer was put under pressure to release the accused in a theft case. Pooja's intervention was in a case registered by the Panvel police on May 18.

Pooja called up Deputy Commissioner of Police Vivek Pansare over the phone and demanded that the accused be released. However, the police did not give in to the pressure. The other day, it was revealed that Pooja had violated traffic rules 21 times. The traffic police have imposed a fine of Rs 27,000 on Pooja for multiple violations.