THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK
New Delhi, Dec 23: The Delhi High Court on Monday rejected former IAS probationer Puja Khedkar’s anticipatory bail plea and revoked the interim protection previously granted to her.
Justice Chandra Dhari Singh’s bench dismissed the anticipatory bail plea of Khedkar, highlighting the esteemed status of the UPSC examination.
The court noted that the incident constitutes a fraud not just against an institution but also against society as a whole and stressed the need for interrogation to unravel the conspiracy behind it.
Consequently, the court rejected the plea and revoked the interim protection previously granted to Khedkar.
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The court noted that, at first glance, the actions in this case seem intended to defraud the organization. It stated that the individual was not an eligible beneficiary but had acquired benefits using forged documents.
Additionally, the court pointed out that the father and mother occupied prominent positions, indicating potential collaboration with influential figures.
Khedkar forged documents to avail disability and quota benefits
Khedkar has been charged by the Delhi Police with fraudulently securing OBC and disability quota benefits in the civil services examination.
Khedkar is alleged to have misrepresented facts in her application for the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2022 to claim reservation benefits.
Khedkar, who was appointed as an IAS officer in the 2023 Maharashtra cadre, is alleged to have forged documents, such as a Physical Disability Certificate and a Non-Creamy Layer Certificate, to secure OBC reservation in the competitive exam. She is also accused of falsifying her identity to take the UPSC exam beyond the allowed number of attempts.
On July 31, the UPSC revoked Khedkar’s candidature and prohibited her from future examinations. The UPSC stated that it thoroughly reviewed the available records and determined that she was guilty of violating the rules of the CSE-2022.
