The Delhi High Court has extended interim protection from arrest for probationary IAS officer Puja Khedkar until September 5 in the ongoing UPSC fraud case. This is the second extension of such protection, following an earlier order by the court on August 21, which provided relief until Thursday, August 29.
Last month, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) barred Puja Khedkar from future examinations and annulled her candidature after it was discovered that she had exceeded the allowed number of attempts by falsifying her identity. In addition, criminal charges were filed against the IAS trainee officer.
The Delhi Police have registered an FIR under various provisions, including the Indian Penal Code, the Information Technology Act, and the Right of Persons with Disabilities Act. The UPSC alleged that Puja Khedkar misrepresented information in her application for the 2022 Civil Services Examination to claim reservation benefits.
On Wednesday, August 28, Khedkar denied the allegations of using fake documents and committing fraud. She argued before the Delhi High Court that only the Centre’s Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has the authority to take action against her. In her response to the court regarding the UPSC’s accusations, she contended that the UPSC lacks the authority to disqualify her candidature. Khedkar is seeking anticipatory bail in the fraud case.
In a four-page reply, she stated, “Once selected and appointed as a Probationary Officer, UPSC does not have the power to disqualify the candidature,” according to NDTV. Khedkar refuted all accusations, asserting that she did not alter or misrepresent her name to the commission, nor did she change her first or last name between 2012 and 2022.
Her reply further stated, “The applicant has not manipulated or misrepresented her name to UPSC. All other details, including academic certificates, Aadhaar card, date of birth, and personal information, have remained consistent in the DAF,” as reported by Hindustan Times.
