A Delhi court denied the anticipatory bail plea of Puja Khedkar, a former trainee IAS officer accused of cheating and document forgery to secure her position in the Civil Service Examination. This decision follows the Union Public Service Commission’s (UPSC) cancellation of her candidature amid a significant controversy.
Khedkar argued during the hearing that the bail was necessary to prove her innocence, claiming she was being targeted after filing a sexual harassment complaint against an officer. However, the prosecution countered, stating that Khedkar had repeatedly “cheated the system”.
Khedkar, selected as an IAS officer for the 2023 Maharashtra cadre, faces allegations of forging documents, including a Physical Disability Certificate and Non-Creamy Layer Certificate, to gain OBC reservation benefits. Additionally, she is accused of impersonating someone else to exceed the permissible limits for the UPSC examination.
The Delhi Police filed charges against Khedkar based on a UPSC complaint, citing violations related to forgery, cheating, the IT Act, and the Disability Act.
Public prosecutor Atul Srivastava argued that the case is still in its early stages and that Khedkar’s custodial interrogation is crucial for the investigation’s progress. He emphasized the seriousness of the case, asserting that individuals who cheat the system must be dealt with firmly.
The UPSC cancelled Khedkar’s provisional candidature and barred her from future examinations yesterday. The UPSC stated that Khedkar was found guilty of violating the CSE-2022 Rules after a thorough review of the records.
The allegations against Khedkar emerged after the Pune District Collector reported her alleged abuse of power to the Maharashtra Chief Secretary. Khedkar reportedly demanded special privileges and threatened officers, prompting a series of investigations into her selection for the Civil Service.
A preliminary probe revealed forged documents and questioned her OBC status due to her family’s significant wealth. A central government panel and a police investigation are ongoing.
Khedkar had previously filed a harassment case against Pune District Collector Suhas Diwase, who had reported her alleged misuse of power, leading to her transfer from Pune to Washim.
