SC extends Puja Khedkar’s interim protection from arrest till March 17
THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK New Delhi, Feb 14: The Supreme Court on Friday extended its interim protection from arrest for former…
Image: The Hindu
THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK
New Delhi, Feb 14: The Supreme Court on Friday extended its interim protection from arrest for former IAS trainee Puja Khedkar, who is accused of document forgery to secure eligibility for the 2022 UPSC exam.
The court emphasized that Khedkar must cooperate with the investigation, allowing her protection to continue until the next hearing.
A bench led by Justice BV Nagarathna granted Delhi Police additional time to respond to Khedkar’s challenge against the Delhi High Court’s rejection of her anticipatory bail plea, following a request from Additional Solicitor General SV Raju. The case has been scheduled for hearing on March 18.
On December 23 last year, the Delhi High Court rejected Khedkar’s anticipatory bail plea noting 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.
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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.
