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Suspended IAS trainee officer Puja Khedkar (file photo)
Khedekar, who is accused of cheating and wrongly availing Other Backward Class (OBC) and disability quota benefits, submitted this before the court while dealing with her anticipatory bail plea in a criminal case.
Former IAS probationer Puja Khedkar on Thursday told the Delhi High Court that she is willing to undergo a medical examination at AIIMS after the city police claimed that one of her disability certificates could be “forged” and “fabricated”.
Khedekar, who is accused of cheating and wrongly availing Other Backward Class (OBC) and disability quota benefits, submitted this before the court while dealing with her anticipatory bail plea in a criminal case.
“I am willing to undergo medical examination. First they said I had changed my name. Now they are saying disability is doubtful. I am willing to go to AIIMS,” said senior counsel appearing for Khedekar.
Justice Subramium Prasad listed the matter for further hearing on September 26 and recorded that the police had prayed to wait for another 10 days for further investigation.
The provisional arrest protection granted to Khedekar by the High Court will last until then.
Lawyers for Delhi Police argued that Khedekar “concealed facts” while trying to appear for the civil services examination, without which she was not eligible to sit for the examination.
Khedekar's senior lawyer claimed that the police did not request her custodial interrogation in the circumstances report filed and that it would not have been required in any case because authorities had access to all records.
Police said her detention was crucial to uncovering the “conspiracy” and others involved.
Khedkar allegedly distorted information while applying for the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2022 to obtain reservation benefits.
On July 31, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) canceled her candidature and barred her from appearing for future examinations.
She denies all accusations.
Both the UPSC and Delhi Police sought rejection of her pre-arrest bail plea.
Delhi Police claimed that any relief for her would hamper investigations into a “deep-rooted conspiracy” and that the case had wider implications for public trust and the integrity of civil service examinations.
It was then claimed that Khedekar submitted two different disability certificates for the 2022 and 2023 civil service examinations. After verification, it was found that the latter “is more likely to be forged and fabricated.”
The UPSC had earlier said Khedekar had committed fraud against the commission and the public and her custodial interrogation was necessary to reveal the “extent of the fraud”, which could not have been done without the help of others.
The UPSC had initiated a series of actions against Khedkar in July, including filing a criminal case against her for allegedly trying to appear in the civil services examination by forging her identity.
The Delhi Police has registered an FIR under the provisions of the Indian Penal Code, Information Technology Act and Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act.
On August 1, a court here rejected Khedekar's anticipatory bail and said there were serious allegations against her that “need to be thoroughly investigated”.
(This report has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from United News Agency-PTI)
