New Delhi: Puja Khedkar, a former probationary officer of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), has petitioned the Delhi High Court to grant her anticipatory bail in connection with a case filed against her based on a complaint submitted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).The Delhi Police has lodged a cheating case against Puja Khedkar, based on a complaint filed by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), which alleges that she deceitfully exceeded the allowed number of attempts in the examination by falsifying her identity through changes to her name, parents names, photograph, signature, email address, mobile number and residential address.Khedkars plea for anticipatory bail rejectedPuja Khedkars application is scheduled for a hearing on Friday in the court of Justice Subramonium Prasad.Puja Khedkars plea for anticipatory bail was rejected by a sessions court in the national capital on August 1, with the court stating that the serious nature of the allegations requires a thorough probe.While dismissing Puja Khedkars anticipatory bail plea, the sessions court instructed the Delhi Police to expand their investigation to explore potential collusion between Khedkar and insiders within the UPSC, as well as to probe whether others have also misused OBC and PwD quota benefits to which they were not entitled.Khedkar also challenged UPSC press release cancelling her candidaturePuja Khedkars candidature was cancelled by the UPSC on July 31, accompanied by a ban from future exams. Khedkar petitioned the High Court, disputing the UPSCs public announcement of her cancellation. In court on Wednesday, the UPSC committed to delivering a copy of the cancellation order to Khedkar within two days, via email and postal mail to her last known address.
