https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Supreme Court Asks Ex-IAS Trainee Puja Khedkar to Respond to Fraud Charges by April 15

The court remarked that a candidate who has exhausted attempts as an abled candidate cannot claim separate attempts as a disabled candidate
IAS Puja Khedkar
Indian Masterminds Stories

The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed discharged IAS probationary officer Ms. Puja Khedkar to respond by April 15 to the Delhi Police’s charges of fraudulently availing quota benefits to appear multiple times in the Civil Services Examination (CSE).

Also Read: After Puja Khedkar Case, UPSC Receives 30 Complaints Challenging the Credentials Of Several Other Selected Civil Servants

Court’s Observations

The court remarked that a candidate who has exhausted attempts as an abled candidate cannot claim separate attempts as a disabled candidate. A bench led by Justice B.V. Nagarathna, along with Justice S.C. Sharma, asked Ms. Khedkar to justify her position while responding to the Delhi Police’s allegation that she was part of a larger racket.

Ms. Khedkar maintained that she still had remaining attempts under the disability category. However, the court firmly stated, “You cannot have separate attempts for abled and disabled categories.”

Supreme Court Extends Protection from Arrest

The Supreme Court had earlier issued a notice on January 15, 2025, granting Ms. Khedkar protection from arrest or any coercive action. This protection has now been extended until the next hearing.

Background of the Case

Ms. Khedkar, a 2023 batch IAS officer of the Maharashtra cadre, was discharged from service on September 7, 2024, following an investigation into her misuse of OBC and PwBD quota benefits. Her candidature was canceled by UPSC on July 31, 2024, due to suppression of information.

Delhi Police’s Allegations

Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Mr. S.V. Raju, appearing for the Delhi Police, stated that Ms. Khedkar was aided by others in forging medical certificates to obtain multiple attempts in CSE. He argued that there was a “bigger scam” and that custodial interrogation was necessary to uncover the full extent of the conspiracy.

However, the Supreme Court questioned whether custodial interrogation was required, stating that Ms. Khedkar was not the “kingpin” of the alleged scam. The court directed the police to proceed with their investigation “steadfastedly” and questioned why she had not yet been called for interrogation.

Fraudulent Attempts and Disability Claims

According to the Delhi Police, Ms. Khedkar appeared for the CSE under the backward class category since 2012. In 2018, she claimed disability status, citing 40% low vision. She exhausted her nine permissible attempts in 2020 but allegedly continued to appear under a changed name. In 2022, she secured selection under the disability quota.

The police pointed out that two disability certificates were issued by the same hospital in Maharashtra on January 18, 2021—one indicating 40% low vision disability and another claiming hearing impairment and locomotor disability.

Khedkar’s Defense

Ms. Khedkar’s lawyer, Ms. Bina Madhavan, argued that her disability developed over time and that she qualified for the disability quota only after passing medical evaluations by AIIMS doctors. She insisted that as a PwBD candidate, she had only attempted CSE three times and had not yet exhausted her attempts.

She further argued that the charges against her were based on documentary evidence already in police possession, making custodial interrogation unnecessary.

Previous Court Rulings

Earlier, both the Delhi High Court and a city court denied Ms. Khedkar pre-arrest bail, with the High Court making scathing observations about a larger conspiracy. The court noted that her actions were an attempt to manipulate the UPSC system.

Next Steps

Ms. Khedkar must submit her response by April 15, after which the Supreme Court will decide whether her protection from arrest will continue. Meanwhile, the Delhi Police is expected to intensify its investigation into the alleged scam.

Also Read: Former IAS Trainee Puja Khedkar Moves Supreme Court Against Denial of Anticipatory Bail


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
Kerala_govt_resized
11 IAS Officers Transferred in Kerala, Keshvendra Kumar Appointed Secretary, Finance
GRID
Amit Kumar Jain Appointed Director (Finance) at Grid-India
IRS Officer Indian revenue Services
IRS Charanpreet Singh Bakshi Gets Extension as Joint Secretary in Ministry of Minority Affairs
ITS Indian Trade Service
2 Senior ITS Officers Appointed as OSDs at DoT Headquarters, Deb Kumar Chakrabarti Made OSD to Member, Services
IDAS Officer Indian Defence Accounts Service
4 Senior IDAS Officers in HAG Rank Get New Postings, Alka N Arora Posted As Principal Integrated Financial Advisor (Air Force)
HPCL_logo_HIndustan Petroleum
HPCL Q4 Profit Rises 18% to Rs. 3,355 Crore; Announces Rs. 10.50 Dividend Despite LPG Loss Buffer
IPS logo resized
Delhi Court Orders FIR Against 2023-Batch Trainee IPS Officer for Alleged Assault - Know the Case
G
Senior IFS Officer G. Chandrasekhar Reddy Appointed as Telangana's Chief Information Commissioner - Know More About Him
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IPS Sandeep Tamgadge
IPS Sandeep Tamgadge’s Two Decades of Service in Nagaland
IMG-20250429-WA0019
How Mission IAS is Transforming Dreams of Underprivileged UPSC Aspirants
Aakash Garg
Computer Engineer Aakash Garg Takes AIR-5 in UPSC CSE 2024 Through Sheer Discipline And Hard Work | Exclusive
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
iqbal-ahmad-upsc-2024
From Cycle Repair Shop to UPSC Rank 998: UP's Iqabal Ahmad’s Inspiring Journey Against All Odds
Iqbal Ahmad, son of a handyman from Sant Kabir Nagar, secured 998th rank in UPSC 2024, fulfilling his...
IPS Sandeep Tamgadge
IPS Sandeep Tamgadge’s Two Decades of Service in Nagaland
For over 20 years, IPS officer Sandeep Tamgadge has served Nagaland, navigating its unique cultural landscape...
Shubham Kaurav UPSC
Four Attempts, One Dream: How Shubham Kaurav Cracked UPSC CSE with AIR 291
With determination, self-study, and a strategic mindset, Gwalior’s Shubham Kaurav turned years of hard...
Social Media
Shakti Dubey AIR 1
UPSC Rank 1 Shakti Dubey's Success Sparks Debate on Civil Services Examination System, Ex-IPS Officer Raises Questions
Shakti Dubey’s UPSC Rank 1 success has sparked debate after ex-IPS officer Yashovardhan Azad questioned...
IAS Pulkit Garg
Central Jail Road Transforms into a Vibrant People-Centric Street in Varanasi
This road has been given a soul, the soul of a musical path, adorned with pink enamel folk art and every...
Rajan Singh Ex-IPS
Ex-IPS Officer Rajan Singh Shares Powerful Insight on Influence through Action
Mr. Rajan Singh is an ex-IPS officer of the 1997-batch (Kerala cadre) and founder of HabitStrong Org...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
Kerala_govt_resized
11 IAS Officers Transferred in Kerala, Keshvendra Kumar Appointed Secretary, Finance
GRID
Amit Kumar Jain Appointed Director (Finance) at Grid-India
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IPS Sandeep Tamgadge
IMG-20250429-WA0019
Aakash Garg
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT