Puja Khedkar, now an IAS officer, has always been known for her academic prowess and dedication to public service and has allegedly used different names—Khedkar Puja Deeliprao and Puja Manorama Dilip Khedkar for PwBD certificates.

In 2019, in her civil service examination, she used her name as Khedkar Puja Deeplirao, whereas in the 2022 service allocation by UPSC, where she was selected as IAS, she used her name as Puja Manorama Dilip Khedkar under the PwBD multiple (MD) category.  The revelations surrounding her multiple identities during the Civil Services Examination have raised significant questions about the examination system's integrity and the measures in place to ensure its fairness.

Puja Khedkar applied concurrently in August 2022 for disability certifications for locomotor disability from Yashwantrao Chavan Memorial Hospital in Pimpri, Pune, and District Civil Hospital in Aundh. She did this despite receiving disability certifications from the Ahmednagar district hospital for low vision in 2018 and for mental sadness and low vision in 2021. Her application was turned down by the District Civil Hospital in Aundh due to "double submission," while Yashwantrao Chavan Memorial Hospital (YCMH), in Pimpri, approved a 7% locomotor impairment certificate.

The discrepancy came to light during a routine verification process when it was discovered that Puja had registered for the Civil Services Examination under multiple names. This revelation prompted an internal investigation by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), the body responsible for conducting the examination. According to sources, Puja used at least two different names during her application process, preliminary examination, and main examination.

An investigation is presently underway to determine the validity of several certificates that Ms. Khedkar submitted to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). Among these are the vision impairment certificates that Ms. Khedkar filed under the Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) category.

In response to that, Puja has expressed confidence that the ongoing investigation will clear her name and reaffirm her commitment to public service. In a brief statement, she reiterated her dedication to upholding the principles of integrity and transparency that define civil services.