The Supreme Court is set to hear the anticipatory bail plea of ex-IAS trainee Puja Khedkar tomorrow. Khedkar, who faces allegations of forgery, cheating, and fraud related to the misuse of a backward class certificate, had her bail request denied by lower courts. Terming the accusations as “erroneous,” she has moved the apex court seeking relief. The case has garnered significant attention due to its implications for civil services integrity and legal accountability.
New Delhi: Former IAS trainee officer Puja Khedkar, who gained attention last year for allegedly lying about disabilities, changing her surname, and forging a backward class certificate to pass the civil services exam, has approached the Supreme Court challenging a Delhi High Court order that denied her anticipatory bail.
Supreme Court to Hear Ex-IAS Trainee’s Anticipatory Bail Challenge Tomorrow, Jan 15
In strong remarks while rejecting her petition last December, the High Court stated that the charges against her, including forgery and cheating, represent a “classic example of fraud committed not only against an authority but also the nation at large.”
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The court noted that her actions appeared to be aimed at deceiving authorities, indicating that “her steps (were) part of a larger conspiracy.”
The bench remarked that Ms. Khedkar is “unfit for appointment.”
The court emphasized,
“The conduct of the petitioner was purely driven by a motive to dupe the complainant, UPSC (Union Public Service Commission), and all documents allegedly forged by her were done to reap benefits of schemes meant for disadvantaged groups of society.”
In her Supreme Court petition, Khedkar labeled the High Court’s decision as “erroneous.”
A bench is expected to hear her case on Wednesday. The UPSC has stated that she attempted the civil services exam more than the permitted six times for a general category candidate by altering her and her parents’ names, complicating detection.
Before the High Court, Khedkar argued that her physical disability diagnosed by a Maharashtra hospital as an “old ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) tear with left knee instability” should allow her attempts in the ‘divyang’ category to be counted.
She claimed that only her middle name had been changed and insisted,
“UPSC verified my identity through biometric data… did not find my documents fake or incorrect.”
In July, the UPSC revoked her selection as a junior government officer and barred her from future civil services exams. Two months later, the Union government dismissed her. Khedkar has consistently denied all charges, alleging that she is being targeted due to a sexual harassment complaint against her superior.
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