Sacked IAS Officer Puja Khedkar's Anticipatory Bail Rejected By Court

Delhi's Patiala House Court dismissed the anticipatory bail plea of Puja Khedkar, a 2023 batch Maharashtra cadre trainee IAS officer, whose selection was revoked by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for allegedly using fraudulent means to pass the examination.

Puja Khedkar is facing charges of cheating and forgery.

During the hearing, Khedkar claimed she was being targeted for filing a sexual harassment complaint against another officer.

On Wednesday, the UPSC announced the cancellation of Khedkar's provisional candidature and permanently barred her from all future exams and selections.

In an official statement, the UPSC said, "Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) cancels the provisional candidature of Puja Manorama Dilip Khedkar, a provisionally recommended candidate of the Civil Services Examination-2022 (CSE-2022) and permanently debars her from all future exams and selections."

Earlier this month, Khedkar made headlines for her demands for a separate cabin and staff, which resulted in her transfer from Pune to Washim.

Further allegations surfaced that she secured her IAS position by exploiting the Other Backward Class (OBC) and visually impaired categories, while submitting a mental illness certificate.

Adding to the controversy, a viral video showed Khedkar's mother, Manorama Khedkar, waving a pistol and yelling at a man during an alleged land dispute.

In court, as the prosecution argued against her application, stating she "cheated the system," Khedkar defended herself, asserting her need for anticipatory bail to "establish her innocence."

"I filed a complaint for sexual harassment, and that is why all this is being done against me. This is all happening on behalf of the collector against whom I have leveled a sexual harassment complaint. The person asked me to come and sit in a private room. I said I am a qualified IAS and I will not do that. I am pressing for anticipatory bail to establish my innocence," Khedkar's advocate Bina Mahadevan told the court, according to PTI.

Mahadevan also stated that Khedkar did not suppress any information, though she did mistakenly report the number of attempts. "I wrote five, but I should have said 12. It is because I availed those attempts under a different quota. Whether it was done in good faith or not is to be inquired," she explained.

The advocate further mentioned that Khedkar had been summoned by multiple authorities. "IAS Academy Mussoorie has called me (Khedkar), Pune Commissioner has called me. DoPT has given me a notice as well. I need anticipatory bail to defend myself before all these forums," the counsel said.