New Delhi: Former IAS trainee Puja Khedkar appeared before the Crime Branch at Kamla Market on Friday for questioning in connection with serious allegations of using forged certificates to clear the 2022 UPSC Civil Services Examination. The case, which has sparked nationwide attention, revolves around claims that Khedkar fraudulently availed reservations meant for Other Backward Classes (OBC) and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities.
Speaking to ANI after her appearance, Khedkar denied all allegations. “As per the Supreme Court orders, I have come here to cooperate in the investigation. Since day one, I have maintained that I am willing to cooperate. The accusations that I submitted fake certificates are baseless. I am in India and have not fled the country as some are claiming,” she said.
The FIR filed by Delhi Police charges Khedkar with cheating and unlawful claims of reservation benefits. According to investigators, she allegedly manipulated her credentials to exploit reserved categories, securing a place in the prestigious IAS cadre through deceit.
The Delhi High Court had earlier dismissed her anticipatory bail plea, terming the case a “classic example of fraud, not only with a Constitutional body but also with society and the nation as a whole.” The court stressed the importance of thorough interrogation to uncover the full extent of the alleged conspiracy and hinted at the involvement of powerful individuals, noting that both of Khedkar’s parents held high-ranking government positions.
While her counsel had filed a counter-affidavit, procedural delays led the Supreme Court to adjourn the hearing temporarily. The bench questioned the pace of the investigation, urging the Delhi Police to expedite the probe given Khedkar’s stated willingness to cooperate.
Khedkar’s case has reignited debate over the misuse of reservation policies and the loopholes in the examination and verification system of the UPSC. Legal experts and civil service aspirants alike are watching closely as the investigation unfolds.
