Delhi’s Patiala House Court has rejected the anticipatory bail request of Puja Khedkar, a former IAS trainee accused of using fraudulent means to pass the UPSC examination. Additional Sessions Judge Devender Kumar Jangala made the decision after deliberating on arguments presented by both sides. Khedkar, facing imminent arrest, is accused of benefiting from quota reservations by falsifying her identity and exceeding the permissible number of examination attempts.
Senior Advocate Naresh Kaushik, representing the UPSC, argued that Khedkar unlawfully secured public employment, constituting an offense against both the commission and society. During the court proceedings, Khedkar claimed that her actions were linked to a sexual harassment complaint she had filed against an officer, alleging that the charges against her were retaliatory.
Khedkar’s counsel, Bina Mahadevan, insisted that Khedkar did not obscure any information but simply misreported the number of attempts under different quotas. Mahadevan highlighted the urgency for Khedkar to receive anticipatory bail to defend herself in multiple ongoing inquiries by various authorities, including the IAS Academy in Mussoorie and the Pune Commissioner.
The prosecution opposed the bail application, insisting on the necessity of Khedkar’s custodial interrogation. Public prosecutor Atul Srivastava argued that Khedkar had exploited system loopholes, even going to the extent of changing her parents’ names to manipulate the examination process. Srivastava emphasized the detriment to genuine candidates and stressed the need for serious consequences for those who cheat the system.
In conclusion, the court’s dismissal of Khedkar’s bail plea underscores the gravity of the allegations against her and highlights the need for a rigorous investigation to preserve the integrity of the UPSC examination process.
Original Story https://www.livemint.com/news/india/delhi-court-denies-anticipatory-bail-to-former-ias-probationer-puja-khedkar-11722510421883.html
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