
Former IAS trainee Puja Khedkar, accused of forgery and cheating to clear the civil services examination, has approached the Supreme Court challenging the Delhi High Court’s decision to deny her anticipatory bail. The High Court had earlier labeled the allegations against her as a “classic example of fraud” that undermines not only the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) but also the nation.
High Court’s Observations
In its December ruling, the Delhi High Court expressed strong disapproval of Ms. Khedkar’s actions, suggesting that her alleged behavior was part of a larger conspiracy aimed at duping authorities. The court described her as “unfit for appointment” and noted that her alleged forgery and deceit sought to exploit benefits intended for disadvantaged groups.
“Her conduct was motivated by personal gain and represents a larger conspiracy to undermine public trust,” the court stated.
Charges Against Khedkar
Ms. Khedkar is accused of falsifying documents, including a backward class certificate and disability records, to gain undue advantages in the civil services examination. UPSC has claimed she surpassed the six-attempt limit for general category candidates by altering her and her parents’ names, making the violation harder to detect.
Khedkar’s purported disability, cited in her arguments, was supported by a Maharashtra hospital certificate diagnosing her with an “old ACL tear with left knee instability.” However, UPSC rejected her claims, citing biometric verification of her identity during the exam process.
Supreme Court Petition
In her plea to the Supreme Court, Ms. Khedkar called the High Court’s judgment “erroneous” and asserted her innocence. She argued that the charges were baseless and said her middle name alteration was minor and not an attempt at fraud.
The Supreme Court is likely to hear her case on Wednesday.
Action Taken by UPSC and Government
In July, UPSC revoked Ms. Khedkar’s selection and barred her from appearing for future civil services exams. By September, the Union government dismissed her from her junior government officer position.
Khedkar’s Defense
The former IAS trainee has denied all allegations and suggested she is being unfairly targeted due to a sexual harassment complaint she had filed against a senior officer. She maintains that the biometric verification during the examination process validated her identity and documents.
The case has sparked significant attention, with debates on ethical accountability in the civil services examination and systemic loopholes in verifying candidate eligibility.
Sources By Agencies