A Delhi court has reserved its decision on the anticipatory bail plea of IAS trainee officer Puja Khedkar, who is accused of fraud and forgery. Khedkar faces allegations of submitting fake disability and caste certificates. The court is set to announce its order on August 1 at 4 PM. Additional Sessions Judge Devendra Kumar Jangla was scheduled to hear the case on Tuesday but postponed it after the public prosecutor requested more time.
Prosecution’s Argument
The public prosecutor informed the court that a new government lawyer has been appointed to present arguments. Khedkar sought anticipatory bail after an FIR was lodged against her for allegedly misusing quotas reserved for Other Backward Classes (OBC) and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) to pass the UPSC exam.
Case Background
Following a complaint from the UPSC, Delhi Police registered a case against Khedkar. A show-cause notice has also been issued to her. The complaint alleges that Khedkar fraudulently altered her name, her parents’ names, photographs, signatures, email IDs, mobile numbers, and addresses to gain extra attempts at the exam. The UPSC has initiated proceedings to cancel her selection and disqualify her from future exams.
Current Status of Puja Khedkar
Trainee IAS officer Puja Khedkar failed to report to the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) in Mussoorie by the stipulated deadline of July 23. Since the FIR was registered against her, Khedkar has been missing.
Impact on Career
Khedkar’s career is now in jeopardy. The UPSC has filed an FIR against her and issued a show-cause notice to cancel her candidacy for the Civil Services Examination 2022 and disqualify her from future exams. Reports suggest that she will face criminal prosecution.
Controversy Details
Puja Khedkar is under scrutiny for the disability and OBC certificates she submitted during her IAS exam. Additionally, her conduct during her tenure at the Pune Collector’s office is being investigated. Documents reveal that Khedkar used a false address and fake ration card to obtain a disability certificate.
Khedkar provided the address “Plot No. 53, Dehu-Alandi, Talwade” and claimed it was her residence in Pimpri-Chinchwad. However, this address belongs to Thermoverita Engineering Private Limited, a defunct company. A fake ration card was created using this address, which Khedkar used to claim locomotor disability and obtain a certificate stating she has a 7% disability in her knee, issued on August 24, 2022.
Moreover, an Audi car is registered under the same company’s name, and according to the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation’s tax collection department, the company owes Rs 2.7 lakh in taxes over the past three years. Khedkar, a 2023 batch IAS officer, is under investigation for allegedly fabricating a disability certificate for the UPSC recruitment process.
