https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Delhi HC Extends Ex-IAS Puja Khedkar’s Interim Protection Till October 4th

"Ms. Khekdar became a celebrity because of her own doings," said UPSC's Legal Counsel at Delhi HC
Indian Masterminds Stories

The Delhi High Court has recently decided to extend the interim protection granted to the former IAS probationer Puja Khedkar, from police arrest, until October 4th. Ms. Khedkar created quite the whizz in the bureaucracy circles by allegedly cheating, and misuse of OBC and disability quota benefits in the civil services examination.

Justice Chandra Dhari Singh, hearing the case, deferred proceedings on her plea seeking anticipatory bail. The Delhi Police’s counsel urged the court to allow a short adjournment, pontificating at a potential “larger conspiracy”, which involved forgery and creation of documents.

Ms. Khedkar’s legal counsel sought more time from the court to file a response to the UPSC’s allegation that she committed perjury by making a false statement in relation to her anticipatory bail plea. Ms. Khedkar initially claimed that her “debarment” was the aftermath of a sexual harassment complaint by her against an officer, and objected to the amount of media attention the case was attracting.

While the Delhi Police lawyer maintained that the investigating agency is “never under media pressure”, UPSC’s senior counsel went a step ahead by stating that Ms. Khekdar “became a celebrity because of her own doings.”

It is imperative to mention that both the UPSC and the Delhi Police demanded the dismissal of her plea anticipatory bail. Puja Khedkar got interim protection from arrest on August 12th, which has been extended a few times till then. The Delhi Police has claimed that any relief to Khedkar would hinder its probe into the “deep-rooted conspiracy” and that the case has wider implications on public trust as well as the integrity of the civil services examination.

The UPSC, who accused Khedkar of duping it as well as the public, said her custodial interrogation was necessary to unearth the “magnitude of the fraud” that could not have been done without the help of other individuals. As per the official government order dated September 6, Khedkar was discharged from the IAS with immediate effect under Rule 12 of IAS (Probation) Rules, 1954.

Ms. Puja Khedkar, a 2022 batch ex-IAS officer under training, became a subject of intense discourse over the internet and national television after allegations arose that she had lied about her mental and visual condition, through “fraudulently” obtained certificates from the District Civil Hospital in Ahmednagar, to secure an officer’s post despite an unremarkable score in the ultra-competitive qualifying exam. Khedkar was “diagnosed” with Locomotor Disability and a 7% permanent disability concerning her left lower limb. She also obtained a second certificate, which covered both low vision and mental illness (depression).

The conundrum was fueled when it was learned that Khedkar, while going through the selection process for an IAS post, had refused to undergo a mandatory medical test to confirm her disabilities six times in a row! It is pertinent to mention that she secured an All India Rank of 821 under the Physical Disability (PWD-5) category in the 2022 UPSC exams.

The entire fiasco unfurled after she made demands for a separate cabin and staff during her Pune posting. She demanded a red-blue beacon light, a VIP number plate, along with a ‘Maharashtra government’ board affixed to her private Audi car and other shenanigans while being posted as the Super Numerary Assistant Collector in Pune.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
UP Government Uttar Pradesh Yogi
Uttar Pradesh: Yogi Govt Transfers 8 IAS Officers, Appoints Masoom Ali Sarwar as Waqf Board CEO
Y-Puran-Kumar
Haryana IPS Y Puran Kumar Suicide: IAS Wife Amneet Kumar Files Complaint Against DGP and SP Over Explosive Note
shastri-bhawan
“I Just Couldn't Take It Anymore” - The Untold Story Behind CSS Officer Deepak Khoda’s Suicide Attempt at Shastri Bhawan | Exclusive Interview
grse mou
GRSE Signs Strategic MoU to Boost Indigenous Development of Advanced Naval Navigation Systems
Mazagon_Dock_Shipbuilders_Ltd_Organizes_Diwali_Mela_
Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL) Hosts Diwali Mela to Boost Vigilance Awareness and Empower Rural Self-Help Groups
NALCO_MOU_
NALCO Foundation Signs MoU to Boost Skill Development and Livelihood Opportunities for Rural Youth
Concor
Dividend Alert: CONCOR to Announce Q2 FY26 Financial Results and Second Interim Dividend on November 11
ircon and coal india
Coal India Partners with IRCON to Strengthen Rail Network for Seamless Coal Transportation
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IDES Saquib Alam
UPSC Strategy & Mindset Tips from IDES Officer Saquib Alam | Video Interview 
Dr G K Goswami IPS
Everything you ever wanted to know about e-murder, e-dacoity and data safety
IFS Ravikant Meena UPSC IFS
Ravikant Meena on IFS Preparation, Optionals, and Life in Forest Service
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
Jitendra Baghel MPPSC
7 Years, 4 Interviews, Now Dy.SP: How Jitendra Baghel Cracked MPPSC Through Relentless Struggle
Jitendra Baghel’s inspiring journey from a humble farming background to MPPSC Dy.SP showcases relentless...
IDES Saquib Alam
UPSC Strategy & Mindset Tips from IDES Officer Saquib Alam | Video Interview 
Discover how IDES officer Saquib Alam left his corporate job at Mahindra, overcame six UPSC attempts,...
Utkarsh Ujjwal IAS
IAS Utkarsh Ujjwal Shares Key Advice for UPSC Aspirants: Work Ethic, Failure, and Focus
Read the inspiring journey of IAS Utkarsh Ujjwal, 2023 batch, Gujarat cadre. From IIT Guwahati to clearing...
Social Media
World Rhino Day India
On World Rhino Day, IFS Officer Parveen Kaswan Shares Rare Insights - India Now Hosts 80% of the World’s One-Horned Rhinos
September 22 Marks Global Call for Rhino Conservation; India Holds 80% of World’s Greater One-Horned...
Parag Madhukar Dhakate
Relentless Rains Wreak Havoc in Dehradun: IFS officer PM Dhakate Warns Citizens Amid Flash Floods
Cloudbursts in Dehradun triggered flash floods. IFS officer Dr. PM Dhakate warned citizens to stay indoors...
Forest Guard Tiger Encounter
Tigers Clash in the Wild as Forest Guards Capture Rare Footage , Retired IFS Mohan Pargaien Posts Viral Video
Retired IFS officer Mohan Pargaien shares viral video of three tigers brawling in Ramnagar, as forest...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
UP Government Uttar Pradesh Yogi
Uttar Pradesh: Yogi Govt Transfers 8 IAS Officers, Appoints Masoom Ali Sarwar as Waqf Board CEO
Y-Puran-Kumar
Haryana IPS Y Puran Kumar Suicide: IAS Wife Amneet Kumar Files Complaint Against DGP and SP Over Explosive Note
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IDES Saquib Alam
Dr G K Goswami IPS
IFS Ravikant Meena UPSC IFS
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT