https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Delhi HC Reserves Judgment on Anticipatory Bail Plea of Ex-IAS Officer Puja Khedkar in UPSC Fraud Case

Puja Khedkar is accused of “misusing” quotas under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) categories to clear the CSE. An FIR was filed against her by the UPSC, which also barred her permanently from appearing in future examinations.
Indian Masterminds Stories

The Delhi High Court, on Thursday, reserved its judgement on the anticipatory bail plea of former IAS probationer Puja Khedkar, accused of falsifying and misrepresenting facts in her application for the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2022.

ADVERTISEMENT

Justice Chandra Dhari Singh, who heard the arguments from both sides, stated, “Heard both sides. Judgement reserved.” The court extended the interim protection from arrest granted to Khedkar in August until the final verdict.

Khedkar is accused of “misusing” quotas under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) categories to clear the CSE. An FIR was filed against her by the UPSC, which also barred her permanently from appearing in future examinations. On July 31, the Commission cancelled her candidature, alleging that she violated the Civil Services Examination-2022 Rules.

Arguments in Court

Khedkar argued that she would cooperate with the investigation and that her custody was unnecessary, as the evidence against her was documentary. However, the Delhi Police opposed the plea, asserting that her custodial interrogation was crucial to uncovering the involvement of other individuals in the alleged fraud.

ADVERTISEMENT

The UPSC described Khedkar as the “mastermind” of the scheme, alleging that her actions reflected significant influence. The Commission stated that Khedkar “fraudulently availed attempts beyond the permissible limit” by manipulating her identity, including changing her name, photograph, and personal details.

Previous Denial of Bail

On August 1, a trial court denied anticipatory bail to Khedkar, directing investigators to broaden the scope of their probe to identify other candidates who may have similarly exploited quotas. The court urged the agency to investigate instances where candidates benefitted unlawfully under OBC or PwBD categories.

Background

Puja Khedkar, who joined the Pune Collectorate as part of her probationary training in June, allegedly fabricated her identity to misuse quota benefits. The UPSC’s statement revealed that her actions included altering the names of her parents, signature, email, mobile number, and address to secure an undeserved position.

ADVERTISEMENT

The case, which has raised concerns about the integrity of the examination system, awaits the High Court’s verdict on her bail plea.


Indian Masterminds Stories
Related Stories
NEWS
RailTel Corporation of India Limited 2
RailTel and NBCC Partner to Develop Data Centres in India and Abroad
Punjab_govt_resized
Mohali Court Questions Delay in Prosecution Sanction Against IFS Officer in Punjab Forest Scam Case
IPS-logo-resized_new
2 Senior IPS Officers Charu Sinha & Akun Sabharwal Return to Telangana, Await Postings
Orissa High Court
Orissa HC Extends Interim Protection for IAS Officer Bishnupada Sethi in Bribery Case
BEL Bharat Electronics Limited
BEL Secures Massive Contract for Electronic Warfare Suites for IAF's Mi-17 V5 Helicopters
Raman Kumar Meena IPS
IPS Raman Kumar Meena Appointed as DIG in CBI
Raghav Chandra IAS
Retired IAS Officer Raghav Chandra Appointed Professor of Practice at IIM Calcutta
Dabi Sisters and Dinesh MN
Rajasthan IAS, IPS Asset Disclosure: Dabi Sisters Declare No Property
Videos
Meghashree D R IAS
How Wayanad’s Women Turned a Disaster into a Dream Project
Sudhanshu Shekhar JHA
The IRS Association's Mission Is Beyond Numbers and Returns
Padmapani Bora IRS
The Rise of Assam as India’s Most Exciting Tourist Spot | Exclusive with IRS Padmapani Bora
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
RailTel Corporation of India Limited 2
RailTel and NBCC Partner to Develop Data Centres in India and Abroad
Punjab_govt_resized
Mohali Court Questions Delay in Prosecution Sanction Against IFS Officer in Punjab Forest Scam Case
Videos
Meghashree D R IAS
Sudhanshu Shekhar JHA
Padmapani Bora IRS
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT