No advance bail to Puja Khedkar; Delhi Police to probe if anyone within UPSC helped her

 UPSC cancelled provisional candidature of Khedkar and debarred her from future exams

TW, August 01, 2024 : A Delhi court on Thursday rejected the anticipatory bail petition of former trainee IAS officer Puja Khedkar whose candidature was cancelled following allegations of 'misrepresenting information' and misuse of power.

Additional Sessions Judge Devender Kumar Jangala directed the Delhi Police to investigate if Khedkar had got any help from anyone inside the Union Public Service Commission and if any other person had availed of benefits under OBC and PwD quotas without entitlement.

"This person has abused the law and process of law. The chances of her abusing the law is still there. She is a resourceful person," the UPSC’s counsel told the court.

The UPSC on Wednesday cancelled the provisional candidature of Khedkar and also debarred her from all future examinations or selections for “fraudulently” availing attempts beyond the permissible limit provided for in the examination rules by faking her identity.

"The UPSC has examined the available records carefully and found her guilty of acting in contravention of the provisions of the CSE-2022 Rules," the commission had said.

The Delhi Police Crime Branch has booked Pooja for misusing the disability and Other Backward Class (non-creamy layer) quotas to secure her candidature in the civil services exam.

A case under section 420 (cheating), 464 (making a document in the name of a fictitious person), 465 (forgery) and 471 (passing off a forged document as genuine) of IPC and under sections 89 and 91 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act and 66D of the Information Technology Act has been registered against Khedkar.

The Pune Police has already launched an investigation against Khedkar over the alleged unauthorised use of a red-blue beacon light and 'Maharashtra Government' sticker on her private Audi car.