On Wednesday (21st August), the Delhi High Court extended anticipatory bail (interim protection from arrest) of former trainee IAS officer Puja Khedkar. The extension remains in effect till 29th August.
Delhi HC extends interim protection of former probationary IAS officer #PujaKhedkar till Aug. 29 pic.twitter.com/2cagfu2iuY
— DD News (@DDNewslive) August 21, 2024
Notably, Khedkar is accused of falsifying and misrepresenting facts in her application to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). After irregularities and allegations of forged documents were levelled against her, the UPSC cancelled Khedkar’s candidature and debarred her from future exams.
On Wednesday, while extending relief to the former trainee IAS officer, Justice Subramonium Prasad of the Delhi High Court instructed the investigation agency not to arrest her while the matter is under consideration, noting that immediate arrest is “not deemed necessary”.
Both UPSC and Delhi Police had opposed her anticipatory bail plea asserting that the move could significantly hinder the ongoing investigation.
‘Puja Khedkar not entitled to OBC and non-creamy layer reservation benefits’: Submissions of the Delhi Police while opposing her anticipatory bail plea
The Delhi Police said that Puja Khedkar’s anticipatory bail could result in her affecting the probe by providing misleading information or pressurising others to alter records or testimony.
In its status report to the Delhi High Court, Delhi Police said that Puja Khedkar was not entitled to OBC and non-creamy layer reservation benefits. It added that a well-planned conspiracy was hatched to help her misrepresent information in her application for the UPSC Civil Services Examination, 2022. The submissions also revealed that more people could have been involved in Khedkar’s identity fraud case.
In its status report, the Delhi Police said, “The case has wider implications for public trust. It directly impacts the fairness and integrity of the entire examination and selection process. There are other forms of evidence, such as emails, text messages, physical records (that are) not yet submitted to authorities, or even personal records. Khedkar could alter or destroy these if granted protection at the initial stage of investigation.”
The Delhi Police added that this could lead the former IAS trainee officer to create a “consistent narrative, cover up their tracks or manipulate remaining evidence”.
The Police further stated, “This would significantly hinder the investigation’s ability to uncover the complete scope of the fraud.”
Puja Khedkar lied about her parent’s divorce: Report
The investigation has revealed that in her UPSC application, Puja Khedkar had mentioned that her parents were legally separated by a decree of divorce and it was done to avail reservation benefits, India Today report added.
However, in reality, Khedkar’s parents were not separated rather they were living together. According to the analysis of the Call Data Record (CDR) of Puja Khedkar and her family, the parents were in constant touch with each other and their location was also the same most of the time.
Additionally, in her application to the Sports Authority of India (SAI), Puja Khedkar mentioned that she lives with both her parents in Pune which was contrary to her claims in the UPSC application where she said that her parents were divorced, and that she lived separately with her mother. Khedkar had joined SAI as an assistant director in 2022.
Furthermore, her father, Dilip Khedkar retired as the director of the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) in 2023. However, he did not submit any information about his separation or divorce to his employer at any point in time.
UPSC’s submissions before the Delhi High Court
While opposing her anticipatory bail plea, UPSC argued before the High Court that granting the relief to Puja Khedkar “would not only impede the investigation process” but also “embolden individuals with criminal intent to exploit and abuse the law”.
In its affidavit, the UPSC said that “the gravity of fraud committed is unprecedented”. It not only affects a constitutional body but also the public at large and people who could not be appointed despite being eligible and qualified.
It added that Khedkar’s false statements about the number of attempts and her suppression of other information could not have been possible “without the assistance and helping hand of several other individuals, all of which requires to be unearthed by custodial interrogation”.
In its affidavit, UPSC highlighted Khedkar’s alleged fraudulent actions, including attempts made beyond the permissible limits, name changes, and applying under various reserved categories (OBC and people with disabilities).
Stressing that she is ‘influential’ and could tamper with the investigation, the UPSC affidavit further stated, “The fact that the accused is in a position to collude with others even before her selection as a Civil Service officer speaks volumes about her influence. It is not far-fetched to suggest that even the medical reports claiming disability benefits may have been tampered with or obtained through unfair means. There is a prima facie indication of a complex scheme devised by Khedkar to further her intentions in collusion with others. The calculated manner in which the offences have been committed over time indicates that the investigation cannot rely solely on documents.”
It is pertinent to note that the ongoing probe against Khedkar involves several inquiries, such as verifying the authenticity of the disability certificates and cross-checking Puja Khedkar’s claims with other institutions (educational or medical).
(With Inputs from ANI)
