Willing to get medically examined at AIIMS Delhi, Puja Khedkar informs High Court

New Delhi: Controversial former probationary IAS officer Dr Puja Khedkar who was booked by the Delhi Police Crime Branch for cheating and forgery of documents has shown her willingness before the Delhi High Court to get herself medically examined at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Delhi.

Appearing before the court on Thursday, she said, "I am willing to get myself medically examined. First, they say I changed my name. Now they say disability is questionable. I am willing to go to AIIMS."

Khedkar, who has been accused of cheating and wrongly availing Other Backward Classes (OBC) and disability quota benefits, made the submission while the court was dealing with her anticipatory bail plea in the criminal case.

Also read- Puja Khedkar Row: Delhi Police seeks information from Maharashtra Govt, Delhi AIIMS, IAS Academy

This comes after the city police claimed that one of her disability certificates may be "forged" and "fabricated". The Delhi Police counsel argued in the court that Khedkar "concealed facts" while attempting the civil services examination that she was otherwise not eligible to write.

As per PTI, Khedkar's senior lawyer claimed that the police have not pressed for her custodial interrogation in its status report filed in the matter, and the same was anyway not required as all records were available with the authorities.

In response, the police said her custody was essential to unearth the "conspiracy" and the other persons involved.

Khedkar allegedly misrepresented information in her application for the UPSC Civil Services Examination, 2022 to get reservation benefits. On July 31, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) cancelled her candidature and debarred her from future exams. She has denied all allegations.

Both the UPSC and the Delhi Police have sought dismissal of her plea for pre-arrest bail.

The Delhi Police has claimed that any relief to her would hinder its probe into the "deep-rooted conspiracy" and that the case has wider implications on public trust as well as the integrity of the civil services examination.

Further, Justice Subramonium Prasad listed the matter for further hearing on September 26, recording that the police have prayed for 10 more days for further investigation. Khedkar's interim protection of arrest granted by the high court will continue till then.

It has subsequently claimed that Khedkar submitted two different disability certificates for civil services examinations 2022 and civil services examinations 2023. Upon verification, it was found that the "possibility" of the latter "being forged and fabricated is more likely".

The UPSC has earlier said Khedkar committed a fraud against the Commission and the public, and her custodial interrogation was necessary to unearth the "magnitude of the fraud" that could not have been done without the help of other individuals.

The UPSC initiated a series of actions against Khedkar in July, including lodging a criminal case against her for availing attempts in the civil services exam by faking her identity.

The Delhi Police has registered an FIR under provisions of the Indian Penal Code, Information Technology Act and Right of Persons with Disabilities Act.

On August 1, a sessions court here had denied anticipatory bail to Khedkar and said there are serious allegations against her, which "require a thorough investigation".

Centre sacks Khedkar from IAS

Taking note that she is accused of cheating and wrongly availing Other Backward Classes (OBC) and disability quota benefits to ensure her selection in the service, the central government has discharged Puja Khedkar, former probationary civil servant, from the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) with immediate effect, official sources said on Saturday.

The central government, vide order dated September 6, 2024, discharged Khedkar from the Indian Administrative Service under Rule 12 of IAS (Probation) Rules, 1954, with immediate effect, reports PTI.

The rules allow the central government to discharge probationers from service if they fail "to pass the re-examination..." or "if the central government is satisfied that the probationer was ineligible for recruitment to the Service or is unsuitable for being a member of the Service", among others.

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