Puja Khedkar, a former IAS probationer accused of cheating to secure OBC and disability quota benefits, has contested the Union Public Service Commission’s (UPSC) decision to disqualify her.
In her petition in the Delhi High Court, Khedkar argued that the UPSC lacks the authority to cancel her candidature now that she has been selected and appointed as a probationary officer.
Action came a month ago
Last month, the UPSC revoked Khedkar’s selection for the 2022 Civil Services Examination and barred her from taking future exams. The commission accused her of providing false information in her application to obtain reservation benefits. Khedkar is currently seeking anticipatory bail in the criminal case arising from these allegations.
In her response, Khedkar asserted that only the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) of the Central Government has the jurisdiction to take action against her post-selection. She denied the UPSC’s claims that she had misrepresented her identity by altering her name and her parents’ names, which allegedly allowed her to exceed the permitted number of attempts for a general category candidate.
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Claims all documents genuine
Khedkar maintained that her personal details, including her name, have remained consistent from 2012 to 2022. She argued that her identity was verified through biometric data, and all her documents, such as her educational certificates and Aadhaar card, were found to be genuine.
She also pointed out that her disability status was confirmed by a medical board at AIIMS, which determined that her disability met the threshold required for the PwBD (Person with Benchmark Disability) category.
UPSC opposes anticipatory bail plea
The UPSC has strongly opposed Khedkar’s request for anticipatory bail, describing her actions as “fraudulent” and arguing that custodial interrogation is necessary to uncover the full extent of the alleged conspiracy. In its response filed on August 21, the commission stressed the gravity of the fraud, stating that it not only undermined the integrity of a constitutional body but also harmed the interests of other deserving candidates.
The Delhi Police have also called for the dismissal of Khedkar’s bail plea, warning that granting her relief could obstruct the investigation into what they describe as a “deep-rooted conspiracy” with far-reaching implications for public trust and the credibility of the civil services examination.
The Delhi High Court has extended Khedkar’s interim protection from arrest and scheduled the next hearing for September 5.
