A Delhi court on Thursday rejected the anticipatory bail plea filed by IAS probationer Puja Khedkar, accused in a case of cheating and forgery. The development came a day after the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) cancelled the IAS Candidature of Khedkar and permanently debarred her from all future exams and selections.
“The investigation agency needs to widen the scope of the investigation. The agency is directed to find out the candidates recommended [by the UPSC] in the recent past who have availed benefits beyond the permissible age limit under OBC quota and those who availed Persons with Benchmark Disabilities benefits despite not being entitled to it,” the Court ordered.
During the hearing, Khedkar told the court that she was being targeted for filing a sexual harassment complaint against an officer.
Additional Sessions Judge Devender Kumar Jangala on Wednesday reserved the order after hearing arguments on the application filed by Khedkar, who claimed that she has an “imminent threat of arrest”.
The prosecution opposed the application, saying she had “cheated the system”.
What Did the Court Say In Its Order Today
Rejecting the anticipatory bail plea in the case, the Delhi court said that the allegations against Puja Khedkar are grave and serious and require thorough investigation.
“Custodial interrogation of the applicant/accused is required to unearth the whole conspiracy and to establish the involvement of the other persons involved in the conspiracy. In the present facts and circumstances, the court is of the considered opinion that it is not a fit case to exercise discretionary powers of anticipatory bail in favour of the applicant/accused,” the court order stated.
The court further noted that Khedkar breached the wall of the complainant not only once but repeatedly with deceitful means.
Puja Khedkar Snatched Rights Of Eligible Aspirants: Court
The court in its order further stated that accused Puja Khedkar, who is a trainee IAS officer, has not only cheated and defrauded the UPSC but also snatched the lawful rights of eligible UPSC aspirants with benchmark disability.
Puja Khedkar’s UPSC Candidature Cancelled
Earlier, the UPSC announced the cancellation of the provisional candidature of controversial IAS trainee Puja Khedkar and debarred her from taking future exams.
A Show Cause Notice (SCN) was issued by the UPSC to Khedkar, a provisionally recommended candidate of the Civil Services Examination-2022 (CSE-2022) on July 18 for fraudulently availing attempts beyond the permissible limit provided for in the Examination Rules by faking her identity.
The Delhi Police Crime Branch allegedly booked Khedkar on July 19 for misusing the disability and Other Backward Class (non-creamy layer) quotas to secure her candidature in the civil services exam.
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) filed a police case against Khedkar for allegedly fraudulently availing the civil services examination by faking her identity to take the exam beyond the permissible number of attempts.
A dedicated team led by the Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) level of the Crime Branch was tasked to collect the documents from various government departments.
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