Dilip Cherian | Khedkar in Fix as UPSC Scandal Meets Road-rage Drama

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Alert summary (plain language)

Puja Khedkar, previously dismissed from IAS for UPSC fraud involving false OBC and disability claims, is now linked to a kidnapping case. Following a road-rage incident in Navi Mumbai, a cement-mixer ...

Key details

Published on

17 September 2025 at 04:00 pm

Reported by

Deccan Chronicle

Reported

Target profile

State

Maharashtra

City

Pune

Reported loss range

Sources & verification

RISX rewrites public reporting into plain language. Always check the originals — wording, dates, and updates may change after we publish.

Summary last updated from our feed: 17 September 2025 at 04:00 pm

Deccan Chronicle
https://www.deccanchronicle.com/opinion/columnists/dilip-cherian-khedkar-in-fix-as-upsc-scandal-meets-road-rage-drama-1904375

Common scam keywords

Words and phrases scammers use in this kind of scam. If you see them in a message, treat it as a .

upsc fraudidentity misrepresentationfalse disability claimsquota benefits misuseunauthorized exam attemptsdocument forgerycredential falsificationpublic service examination fraudidentity fraudqualification misrepresentation

Topics

identity theft document forgery government examination fraud impersonation public service misconduct quota misuse credential fraud police investigation

(numbers, IDs, links, domains)

Specific things tied to this scam. Tap any item to see other alerts where it appears.

Puja Khedkar (accused)Puja Automobiles (property name in Pune)Navi Mumbai (incident location)Pune bungalow (rescue location)UPSC (examination body)

Red flags this scam usually shows

If a message, call, or page involves any of these, treat it as suspicious — even if it looks like the alert above.

Pushes you to act in a hurry
Real organizations give you time. Threats like 'your account will be closed in 30 minutes' are designed to panic you into mistakes.
Asks for OTP, PIN, CVV, or password
Banks, UPI apps, government offices, and police never ask for these. Anyone asking is trying to steal your money.
Sends you a link or APK to install
Tapping unknown links or installing unverified apps can give scammers full access to your phone and bank accounts.
Asks for an advance, processing fee, or 'refund tax'
Real refunds, prizes, jobs, or loans never require you to pay first. If you must pay to receive something, it is a scam.
Offer sounds too good to be true
Huge cashback, guaranteed jobs, lottery wins, or sky-high returns are classic bait. If it feels unreal, it is.

Time-sensitive

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National cyber-fraud helpline

Call within 24 hours so the bank can try to freeze the money.

Call 1930

Stop the call or chat right now
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Block your card and freeze the account
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Report to the National Cyber Crime Helpline within 24 hours
Call 1930 or file a complaint at cybercrime.gov.in. Reporting within the first 24 hours gives the best chance of freezing the money before it moves.
Open cybercrime.gov.in
Save evidence before it disappears
Take screenshots of the messages, save call logs, note down the phone numbers, UPI IDs, and any URLs involved. Save SMS-based transaction alerts. You will need these for the complaint.
Tell a trusted person
Scams thrive on shame and isolation. Telling a family member or friend helps you think clearly and avoid follow-up scams that target recent victims.

Where to report

Use one of these official channels. Reporting early gives the best chance of recovering funds.

National Cyber Crime Helpline
Start here
First call for any online financial fraud. Operators help you file a complaint and can request banks to freeze the recipient account.
Call 1930 Open website24x7
cybercrime.gov.in
Official portal of the Government of India to report cyber crime, including financial fraud, social media misuse, and crimes against women and children.
Open websiteOnline, anytime
Sanchar Saathi - Chakshu
Report suspicious calls and SMS that look like fraud. Run by the Department of Telecommunications.
Open websiteOnline, anytime

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Scam alert: UPSC Identity Fraud in Maharashtra Puja Khedkar, previously dismissed from IAS for UPSC fraud involving false OBC and disability claims, is now linked to a kidnapping case. What to do: • Never share OTP, PIN, or passwords with anyone. • Do not click unknown links or install apps a stranger asks you to. • If you think you’ve been targeted, call 1930 within 24 hours. More details and how to protect yourself: https://risx.in/alerts/691bfae978ca8e9fd0d997fa

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If this just happened to you

Do these in order. Speed matters more than anything else right now.

Stop the call or chat. Do not click any more links or pay anything.

Call your bank’s helpline (printed on the card or on the bank’s website) and ask them to block the card and freeze online transactions.

Call 1930 within 24 hours and file a complaint at cybercrime.gov.in.

Save screenshots, numbers, and links involved — you’ll need them.

Sources & verification

RISX rewrites public reporting into plain language. Always check the originals — wording, dates, and updates may change after we publish.

Summary last updated from our feed: 17 September 2025 at 04:00 pm

Deccan Chronicle

https://www.deccanchronicle.com/opinion/columnists/dilip-cherian-khedkar-in-fix-as-upsc-scandal-meets-road-rage-drama-1904375

Common scam keywords

Words and phrases scammers use in this kind of scam. If you see them in a message, treat it as a .

Dilip Cherian | Khedkar in Fix as UPSC Scandal Meets Road-rage Drama

If this just happened to you

Alert summary (plain language)

Key details

Sources & verification

Common scam keywords

Topics

Clues from alerts (numbers, IDs, links, domains)

Dilip Cherian | Khedkar in Fix as UPSC Scandal Meets Road-rage Drama

If this just happened to you

Alert summary (plain language)

Key details

Sources & verification

Common scam keywords

Topics

Clues from alerts (numbers, IDs, links, domains)

(numbers, IDs, links, domains)

(numbers, IDs, links, domains)