2024-08-30 18:53:58
New Delhi : The Delhi High Court on Thursday extended the interim protection from arrest to former IAS officer Pooja Khedkar till September 5. She is accused of cheating in the UPSC examination by appearing in the exam more than the permissible limit. UPSC had initiated several actions against Pooja Khedkar last month. These include filing a criminal case against her for appearing in the civil service examination with a fake identity. Delhi Police has registered an FIR under the Indian Penal Code, Information Technology Act and Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act. On July 31, UPSC canceled Pooja Khedkar’s candidature and also barred her from future examinations.
Pooja Khedkar says that after selection and appointment, UPSC does not have the right to disqualify her. Any action against her can only be taken by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) of the Central Government. Pooja has denied the allegations of fake documents and fraud against her. In a four-page reply, she has claimed that she has neither changed her first name nor her surname from 2012 to 2022. She has not misrepresented her name before the commission. She has said in the reply, ‘There is no change in the first name and surname of the applicant from 2012 to 2022, as shown consistently in all the DAFs. The applicant has not misrepresented his name before the UPSC. All other details including academic certificates, Aadhaar card, date of birth and personal information have remained the same in the DAF.’
This reply has been filed by Pooja Khedkar in her petition. In this petition, she has sought anticipatory bail. A case has been registered against her for appearing in the UPSC examination more than the prescribed limit by giving fake identity. In its reply filed on August 20, UPSC has opposed anticipatory bail. UPSC says that Pooja needs to be questioned. This will help in finding out who helped her get provisionally selected in the Civil Services Examination 2022. The Commission said that the gravity of the fraud committed by Pooja Khedkar is unprecedented as it is not only done against the Commission, which has unique traditions, but also against the general public as well as the citizens of the country who trust the credibility of the Commission.
Responding to the UPSC affidavit, Pooja Khedkar claimed in her reply that none of the documents submitted were forged, fabricated or fake. All the documents were issued by competent authorities. She said she is entitled to anticipatory bail. She does not need to be interrogated in custody. The commission already has 11 documents. No more documents are needed from her. On August 21, the High Court extended the interim protection from arrest granted to Khedkar till August 29. Delhi Police and UPSC had opposed this.