Puja Khedkar, a former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) trainee, is at the center of a significant controversy involving allegations of fraudulently securing her position in the civil services. The case has garnered widespread attention due to its implications on the integrity of India’s competitive examination system.
🔍 Allegations and UPSC Actions
In July 2024, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) filed a First Information Report (FIR) against Puja Khedkar, accusing her of:
- Falsifying personal information: Altering details such as her name, parents’ names, photograph, and contact information to fraudulently avail additional attempts beyond the permissible limit for the Civil Services Examination.
- Misusing reservation quotas: Illegitimately claiming benefits under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) categories to gain an unfair advantage in the selection process.
The UPSC initiated criminal prosecution and issued a show-cause notice to Khedkar, seeking to cancel her candidature and debar her from future examinations.
🏛️ Judicial Developments
- Delhi High Court: In December 2024, the Delhi High Court denied Khedkar’s anticipatory bail plea, citing a strong prima facie case of cheating and forgery. The court emphasized the need for investigation into a possible larger conspiracy and potential collusion involving her family and others.
- Supreme Court: Khedkar approached the Supreme Court, which granted her interim protection from arrest on January 15, 2025, provided she cooperated with the investigation. The court questioned the necessity of custodial interrogation, noting that Khedkar was not the originator of the forged documents and suggested that her case might be isolated.
📰 Recent Developments
- Extended Protection: On April 15, 2025, the Supreme Court extended Khedkar’s interim protection from arrest until April 21, 2025. The court took note of her counsel’s submission that her rejoinder to the Delhi government’s reply had been filed but was not yet on record.
- Custodial Interrogation Debate: The Delhi government, represented by Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju, argued for Khedkar’s custodial interrogation to uncover the identity of middlemen involved in the alleged scam of preparing fake disability certificates for UPSC aspirants. Khedkar’s counsel, Advocate Bina Madhavan, stated that she had expressed willingness to cooperate with the investigation.
- Supreme Court’s Stance: The Supreme Court questioned the delay in the investigation despite Khedkar’s willingness to cooperate. The bench observed that while it is essential to uncover the source from which Khedkar allegedly obtained the forged certificates, her custody was not strictly required.
April 15, 2025 | New Delhi | Curated By the team at Boldvoices.in
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