New Delhi: A Delhi court on Thursday rejected sacked IAS officer Puja Khedkar’s anticipatory bail plea in connection with a case filed against her on a complaint by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for allegedly faking her identity and physical disability to avail more than the permissible attempts in the civil services exam.
The Patiala House Court raised questions over Khedkar’s absence in the courtroom and expressed dissatisfaction. The court also stated that if the accused is present even once during the entire session, it cannot be considered a continuous presence.
Additional Sessions Judge Devender Kumar Jangala directed the Delhi Police to investigate whether anyone from within the UPSC helped Khedkar. The judge also expanded the scope of the investigation, instructing the Delhi Police to examine if other individuals have wrongfully availed benefits under the OBC and PwD quotas.
During the proceeding, the prosecution as well as the counsel appearing for the UPSC had opposed the application, claiming that she has “cheated the system”.
“This person has abused the law and process of law. The chances of her abusing the law is still there. She is a resourceful person,” the counsel appearing for the UPSC had claimed before the court.
The Crime Branch of the Delhi Police had registered an FIR against Puja Khedkar in a case of fraud based on a complaint by the UPSC. She is accused of ‘providing false information’ in her application for the Civil Services Examination, 2022.
On Wednesday, UPSC cancelled Puja Khedkar’s candidature in the Civil Services Examination and barred her from taking the exam for life. Khedkar’s violations came to light in June when it was revealed that she had obtained perks beyond her pay grade, including a siren and a ‘Government of Maharashtra’ sticker for her private vehicle.