Former IAS probationer Puja Khedkar moves Delhi HC challenging UPSC decision to cancel candidature

NEW DELHI: Former IAS probationary officer Puja Khedkar has moved the Delhi High Court on Monday challenging Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) decision to cancel her candidature. The matter was mentioned before a bench headed by Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and is slated to be heard on Wednesday.

On July 31, the UPSC, through a press statement, said that it has taken a decision to cancel the provisional candidature of Puja Khedkar, who was facing accusations of cheating and forgery. The UPSC found Puja Khedkar guilty of violating rules and debarred her from all the future exams and selections.

The UPSC stated that it has carefully considered the request of Puja Khedkar and in order to meet the ends of justice, she was granted time till 3.30 pm on July 30th so as to enable her to submit the response to the show cause notice. It was also categorically made clear to Puja Khedkar that it was last and final opportunity to her and no further extension in time would be allowed.

It was also conveyed to her in unequivocal terms that if no response was received by the aforesaid date/time, the UPSC would take further action without entertaining any further reference from her. Despite extension in time allowed to her, she failed to submit her explanation within the prescribed time, stated UPSC.

The UPSC has examined the available records carefully and found her guilty of acting in contravention of the provisions of the CSE-2022 Rules. Her provisional candidature for the CSE-2022 has been cancelled and she has also been debarred permanently from all the future Examinations/Selections of the UPSC, press statement stated.

Recently, the Patiala House Court in Delhi has dismissed the anticipatory bail plea of Puja Khedkar, and said the allegations against the accused Puja Khedkar are grave and serious which requires thorough investigation.

“Custodial interrogation of the accused is required to unearth the whole conspiracy and to establish involvement of the other persons involved in conspiracy. In the present facts and circumstances, I am of the considered opinion that it is not a fit case to exercise discretionary powers of anticipatory bail in favour of the accused”, said Additional Sessions Judge Devender Kumar Jangala.

The court noted that in the present case the applicant/accused has been charged for commission of offence punishable under Section 420/468/471/120B IPC and 66D IT Act and 89/91 Rights of Persons with Disability Act, 2016. The applicant/accused has cheated the complainant by mis representation.

The investigating agency also needs to widen its scope of investigation. Hence the investigating agency is directed to conduct its investigation in all fairness to find out the candidates recommended in recent past (a) Who have illegally availed the attempts beyond permissible limits; (b) who have obtained the OBC(non creamy layer) benefit, despite not being entitled; (c) Who had obtained the benefits of persons with benchmark disability, despite being not entitled and (d) the investigating agency shall also find out whether some insider from the complainant side has also helped the applicant to attain her illegal goals, stated the court.

Puja Khedkar recently filed anticipatory bail application in relation to a FIR registered against her for allegedly “faking her identity to fraudulently avail attempts beyond permissible limit” in civil services examination. Recently, Delhi police registered a FIR on the basis of a complaint filed by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) against Puja Manorama Dilip Khedkar. (ANI)