The Delhi high court on Thursday extended interim protection from arrest granted to former probationary Indian Administrative Services (IAS) officer Puja Khedkar in the case registered against her for fraudulently availing attempts in the Union Public Service Commission or UPSC examination beyond the permissible limit by faking her identity till September 5.
Last month, the UPSC had initiated a series of actions against Puja Khedkar, including registration of criminal case against her for availing attempts in the civil services exam by faking identity. The Delhi Police has registered an FIR under provisions of the Indian Penal Code, Information Technology Act and Right of Persons with Disability Act.
On July 31, the UPSC cancelled Puja Khedkar's candidature and debarred her from future exams.
On Wednesday, Puja Khedkar told the Delhi high court that after her selection and appointment, the UPSC lacks the power to disqualify her, and that the any action against her can be taken only by the Centre’s Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT).
Refuting the allegations of fake documents and fraud levelled by UPSC against her, Puja Khedkar, in a four-page reply, claimed that she neither changed her first name and surname from 2012 to 2022, nor manipulated or misrepresented her name to the commission.
{{/usCountry}}Refuting the allegations of fake documents and fraud levelled by UPSC against her, Puja Khedkar, in a four-page reply, claimed that she neither changed her first name and surname from 2012 to 2022, nor manipulated or misrepresented her name to the commission.
{{/usCountry}}“That there has been no change in the applicant’s first name and surname, from 2012 to 2022, as consistently reflected in all DAFs. 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,” the reply stated.
The reply was been filed by Puja Khedkar in her petition seeking pre-arrest bail in the case registered against her for fraudulently availing attempts in the UPSC examination beyond the permissible limit by faking her identity.
In its reply filed on August 20, the UPSC opposed pre-arrest, bail saying that her custodial interrogation is required to unearth the truth relating to the people who hatched a design that enabled her to secure her provisional selection in CSE-2022.
The commission stated that the gravity of the fraud committed by Puja Khedkar was unprecedented in nature as it was not only committed against the commission, whose traditions are untrammelled and unparalleled, but also against the public at large, including the citizens of the country who have faith in the commission’s credibility.
Responding to UPSC’s affidavit, Puja Khedkar claimed in her reply that none of the documents produced were forged, fabricated or created, and were issued by competent authorities. She added that she was entitled to pre-arrest bail and her custodial interrogation was not required as the commission was already in possession of 11 documents, and no further documentation was required from her.
On August 21, the high court extended the interim protection from arrest granted to Khedkar till August 29, even as the same was opposed by the Delhi police and UPSC.