New Delhi. Another big action has been taken against former Maharashtra cadre trainee IAS Pooja Khedkar who is surrounded by controversies. The central government has dismissed Pooja with immediate effect. This action has been taken against Pooja under Rule 12 of the IAS (Probation) Rules, 1954. There are many serious allegations against Pooja including taking advantage of reservation in UPSC examination by getting a fake disability certificate. Due to these allegations, UPSC recently took action and cancelled Pooja’s IAS candidature. Not only this, Pooja was also banned from appearing in UPSC examinations in future. Now the central government has dismissed Pooja from the job itself.
On the other hand, the sword of arrest is also hanging over Pooja. Due to the allegations of fraud, UPSC has also filed a case against Pooja. For this, Pooja has filed an anticipatory bail petition in Delhi High Court. The court has stayed Pooja’s arrest till 26 September. Pooja’s interim bail petition was rejected by Delhi’s Patiala House Court. After this, Pooja has knocked the door of the High Court. Earlier, while filing her reply in the court, Pooja had said that the allegations of fraud leveled against me are baseless. I am ready to get my disability tested.
Pooja had also said in her reply that UPSC cannot cancel the candidature. Once a candidate is selected and appointed as a probationary officer, UPSC does not have the power to disqualify him/her. Only the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) of the Central Government has the right to take action. Now the Central Government itself has dismissed Pooja Khedkar.