Delhi Court Denies Anticipatory Bail to Puja Khedkar in Alleged UPSC Fraud Case

New Delhi: A Delhi Court on Thursday dismissed the anticipatory bail plea of Puja Khedkar, a trainee Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, who is accused of using fraudulent means to pass the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) examination. 

Additional Sessions Judge Devender Kumar Jangala, while passing the order, instructed the investigation agency to broaden its probe.

The agency has been directed to examine candidates recommended by UPSC in recent years who may have exceeded the permissible age limit under the OBC quota or received benefits for persons with benchmark disabilities without meeting the eligibility criteria. The Delhi Police have also been tasked with investigating whether UPSC officials assisted Khedkar in her alleged fraudulent activities.

Appearing for her, Advocate Bina Madhvan submitted that the certificate says Khedkar is a candidate with multiple disabilities and has a permanent benchmark disability. The percentage of disability is 47%. On the very next day, they filed the FIR. In their reply, Delhi Police says I am required for custodial interrogation. I should be given ample opportunity to defend myself.

Special Public Prosecutor Atul Srivastava, representing the Delhi Police, opposed the bail plea by stating that the initial ground for seeking bail was mental illness, but now the plea includes multiple disabilities as a reason. Atul Srivastava also argued that the individual has been changing her stance repeatedly, which justifies the need for custodial interrogation to clarify the inconsistencies and thoroughly investigate the case.

Senior Advocate Naresh Kaushik, representing the UPSC, submitted that it has been accepted prima facie that an offence has been committed, as the individual admitted to providing incorrect information about the number of attempts.

She has abused the process of law, not only before the UPSC but also in the courts of law, news agency ANI reported.

Senior Advocate Naresh Kaushik argued that securing public employment unlawfully constitutes not only an offence against the UPSC but also an offence against the entire society. The individual, with full awareness and knowledge, committed an offence by providing false information in her application forms

In her bail plea, Puja Khedkar stated that she is a recommended candidate from the Civil Services Examination 2022, allocated to the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), and is currently serving with the Government of Maharashtra. She emphasises her status as a law-abiding and peace-loving citizen and asserts her right to the protection guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution of India, adds ANI.

The entirety of the prosecution's case relies solely on the application form submitted by the Applicant. All the evidence presented is documentary in nature and already in the possession of the police. Therefore, there is no requirement for the recovery of additional documents from the Applicant at this time, as stated her bail plea.

It also stated that the Applicant participated as a candidate under the persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) category in the 2018 Civil Services Examination (CSE), She meticulously submitted a thorough Detailed Application Form (DAF-I) supported by documents and certificates verifying her educational qualifications and disability status as a person in PwBD category. This practice was consistently followed in subsequent years there is no misrepresentation of facts from the side of the Applicant.

The allegation against the applicant is that she misrepresented her name and details. It is submitted that all credentials, including photos, signatures, biometrics, and parental details, remained consistent throughout the Detailed Application Form DAF and the admit card as well.

The UPSC possesses comprehensive data from the outset and has continuous access to the Applicant's credentials from the outset and throughout the entire process, therefore, there is no basis for alleging misrepresentation or malice on the part of the applicant.

Delhi's Patiala House Court is currently examining the anticipatory bail plea of IAS probationer Puja Manorama Dilip Khedkar. She faces an FIR for allegedly "faking her identity to fraudulently avail attempts beyond the permissible limit" in the civil services examination.

Delhi Police has recently registered an FIR based on a complaint filed by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) against Puja Manorama Dilip Khedkar.

"In this matter, the Commission has earlier stated that it has also issued her a show cause notice for the cancellation of her selection and debarment from future examinations. From the investigation, it has been revealed that she fraudulently availed attempts beyond the permissible limit under the Examination Rules by faking her identity by way of changing her name, her father's and mother's names, her photograph or signature, her email ID, mobile number and address," the UPSC said in a press release. Khekar was a provisionally recommended candidate for the Civil Service Examination, 2022.

The UPSC said it initiated a series of actions against her, including criminal prosecution, by filing a First Information Report (FIR) with the police authorities.

On July 16, Puja Khedkar was relieved from the District Training Programme of the State Government of Maharashtra. She was recalled to the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) in Mussoorie and her training has been put on hold.

The letter from the Additional Chief Secretary, Nitin Gadre, read, "LBSNAA Mussoorie has decided to keep your district training programme on hold and immediately recall you for further necessary action."

Khedkar, a probationary IAS officer who secured an all-India rank of 821 in the UPSC exams, has been accused of misusing her authority.