New Delhi: As the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is mired in controversy over corrupt practices, its chairman Manoj Soni is learnt to have put in his papers, The Hindu has reported. 

Soni’s term was to end in 2029.

Soni’s appointment to the top post at the Commission in May, 2023, was one of the several posts granted by the Narendra Modi government either to a fellow Gujarati, or to a bureaucrat from the Gujarat cadre since 2014.

The Hindu has underlined that Soni “is considered close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi who had picked him as the vice chancellor of Vadodara’s famous MS University in 2005 when he was 40 years old, making him the youngest V-C in the country”. More on Modi’s Gujarat fixation when it comes to appointments can be read in The Wire’s report here.

The Hindu’s July 20 report has, however, quoted “a top source” as claiming that Soni’s resignation has nothing to do with the ongoing recruitment scandal at the Commission as he had put in his papers a month ago. “The source added there was no clarity if the resignation would be accepted and he would be relieved. The source also clarified that the resignation was not linked to the controversy regarding UPSC candidates securing employment by presenting fake certificates”. It said Soni had submitted his resignation to President Droupadi Murmu a month back. “However, the government is yet to announce the name of the new chairperson”. 

The report quoting sources said, “He wants to devote more time to Anoopam Mission, a branch of Swaminarayan sect in Gujarat. He (Soni) became a monk or nishka karma yogi (selfless worker) in the Mission after receiving Diksha or initiation in 2020”. 

In other words, Soni had taken initiation as a ‘yogi’ of that sect popular among Gujaratis much before accepting the chairman’s post at the UPSC. Soni was made a member of UPSC by the Modi government in 2017. 

Reacting to the development, the Congress said on July 20 that Soni was apparently "nudged out" in the wake of the current controversy in which the UPSC is involved.

"Mr. Modi brought in one of his favourite 'academics' from Gujarat as a UPSC member in 2017 and made him Chairman in 2023 with a six-year term. But this so-called distinguished gentleman has now resigned five years before the expiry of his term. Whatever the reasons that may be given, it appears clear that he had to be nudged out given the current controversy in which the UPSC is involved," said Congress General Secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh, reported the Press Trust of India.

Also read: New Chairman of UPSC, Manoj Soni, Shares Close Ties with BJP and RSS

Criminal case against Puja Khedkar

Meanwhile, the controversy at the UPSC over a trainee Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Puja Khedkar, allegedly forging identity papers and a disability certificate to get extra attempts to crack the examinations for the top service has taken a new turn this July 19 with the Commission filing a criminal case against her. In a statement, the Commission has said that it conducted a thorough investigation into the allegation and has now issued a show cause notice to her too. It has cancelled her candidature from the civil services and is also to debar her from applying for it henceforth. Khedkar was declared a successful candidate in 2022-23 by the UPSC. She was given the rank of 821 among the successful candidates.

The statement said that its investigation had revealed that “she fraudulently availed attempts beyond the permissible limit under the Examination Rules by faking her identity by way of changing her name, her father’s and mother’s name, her photograph/signature, her email ID, mobile number and address”. 

Khedkar’s case came to light after she allegedly made certain demands as a probationary officer posted in Pune, including using a red beacon light on her Audi car. She also allegedly got ‘Maharashtra Government’ written on it without permission. It had also led her to be transferred from Pune to Washim district of the state before the completion of her training. 

Reacting to the UPSC’s FIR, Khedkar told the media, “Judiciary will take its course”. 

Since Khedkar’s case came to light, social media has been buzzing with several allegations of candidates having forged documents to get employment through the UPSC. 

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