Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Thursday extended the interim protection from arrest granted to former probationary Indian Administrative Services (IAS) officer Puja Khedkar until September 5. Khedkar is facing charges of fraudulently availing additional attempts in the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) examination by allegedly falsifying her identity.
The case against Khedkar was initiated last month when the UPSC registered a criminal complaint against her, accusing her of exceeding the permissible number of attempts in the civil services exam by using a falsified identity. The Delhi Police subsequently filed an FIR under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, Information Technology Act, and the Right of Persons with Disabilities Act.
On July 31, the UPSC canceled Puja Khedkar’s candidature and barred her from participating in any future examinations. However, Khedkar contested this decision, arguing before the Delhi High Court that the UPSC lacks the authority to disqualify her after her selection and appointment, claiming that any such action should be taken solely by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) under the Central Government.
In response to the allegations of document falsification and fraud, Khedkar submitted a four-page reply, refuting the charges. She asserted that there had been no changes to her first name or surname between 2012 and 2022 and that she had not manipulated or misrepresented her identity to the commission. “All other details, including academic certificates, Aadhaar card, date of birth, and personal information, have remained consistent in the DAF,” the reply stated.
Khedkar’s petition seeking pre-arrest bail contends that she has not forged or fabricated any documents, all of which were issued by competent authorities. She further argued that her custodial interrogation was unnecessary as the UPSC is already in possession of 11 relevant documents and does not require additional documentation from her.
The UPSC, in its reply filed on August 20, opposed Khedkar’s plea for pre-arrest bail, stating that her custodial interrogation was essential to uncover the full extent of the alleged conspiracy that led to her provisional selection in the Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2022. The commission described the alleged fraud as “unprecedented,” asserting that it undermines the commission’s credibility and the trust placed in it by the public.
Despite opposition from the Delhi Police and the UPSC, the High Court had previously extended Khedkar’s interim protection from arrest until August 29. The court’s recent decision grants her continued protection until September 5, as the case remains under investigation.
