Former IAS Puja Khedkar Moves Delhi High Court Seeking Anticipatory Bail, Hearing Tomorrow

An anticipatory bail plea has been moved before the Delhi High Court by former probationer IAS officer Puja Khedkar who is accused of “misrepresenting and falsifying facts" in her application for Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Examination, 2022.

The matter will be heard tomorrow by Justice Subramonium Prasad.

Khedkar was denied bail by the trial court on August 01.

On July 31, the UPSC cancelled her candidature and debarred her permanently from all the future examinations and selections of the Commission. As per UPSC, she was found “guilty of acting in contravention of the provisions of the Civil Services Examination-2022 Rules”.

Yesterday, a coordinate bench had disposed of Khedkar's plea challenging cancellation of her candidature after UPSC that it will communicate to her the official order of cancellation within two days.

She had impugned the press release issued by the UPSC, contending that the official order has not been served upon her by the Commission.

While denying anticipatory bail to her, the trial court had directed the investigating agency to widen its scope of investigation in the case and to conduct its probe in all fairness.

The trial court had further directed the probe agency to find out the candidates recommended in the past who have availed the benefits beyond permissible limits and those who obtained benefits under OBC category or under persons with benchmark disabilities without being entitled of the same.

Khedkar joined the Pune Collectorate as part of her probationary training in June. The allegation against her is that she “misused” quotas under Other Backward Classes (OBC) and Persons With Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) to clear the CSE.

An FIR was registered against Khedkar by UPSC in the matter. A show cause notice was also issued to her on cancellation of her selection. She has also been barred from future examinations.

As per a public statement given by UPSC, a detailed and thorough investigation into the “misdemeanour” of Khedkar, revealed that she “fraudulently availed attempts beyond the permissible limit” under the Examination Rules by “faking her identity” by changing her name.

The statement also said that Khedkar changed the names of her father and mother as well as her photograph, signature, email address, mobile number and address. 

Title: Puja Khedkar v. State