The report suggests that more individuals may have been involved in facilitating her fraudulent claims. (X)
New Delhi: Former IAS trainee Puja Khedkar, who falsely claimed OBC and non-creamy layer reservation benefits in her UPSC Civil Services Examination 2022 application, was part of a broader conspiracy, according to the Delhi Police's status report submitted to the Delhi High Court. The report suggests that more individuals may have been involved in facilitating her fraudulent claims.
The Delhi Police have opposed the anticipatory bail granted to Khedkar, arguing that it could severely impede the ongoing investigation. Her interim protection from arrest is valid until today.
The police emphasized the far-reaching consequences of Khedkar's actions, stating, "The case has wider implications for public trust. It directly impacts the fairness and integrity of the entire examination and selection process." The report also warns that if Khedkar remains protected from arrest, she could potentially destroy or alter crucial evidence, such as emails, text messages, and physical records, which have yet to be fully examined.
Khedkar allegedly falsified information in her UPSC application to secure OBC reservation benefits. As a result, the UPSC has canceled her candidature and barred her from future exams.
The investigation has uncovered that Khedkar falsely claimed her parents were legally separated to gain reservation benefits. In her UPSC application, she indicated that her parents had divorced and that she lived separately with her mother. However, the investigation revealed that her parents were not only together but also living in the same household.
An analysis of call data records (CDR) from Khedkar and her family confirmed that her parents were in regular contact, with their locations consistently matching. Further contradictions emerged when it was discovered that in her application to the Sports Authority of India (SAI), where she joined as an assistant director in 2022, Khedkar stated that she resided with both parents in Pune.
Moreover, her father, Dilip Khedkar, who retired as the director of the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) in 2023, never disclosed any separation or divorce to his employer, further debunking Khedkar's claims.
The Delhi Police have expressed concern that Khedkar’s anticipatory bail could enable her to tamper with evidence or pressure others involved in the investigation. The police report highlighted the risk of Khedkar creating a "consistent narrative, covering up her tracks, or manipulating remaining evidence," which would hinder the investigation's progress.
The case, which involves the misuse of reserved category benefits in civil services, continues to raise serious concerns about the integrity of the examination and selection process. The ongoing investigation will include further inquiries into the authenticity of documents submitted by Khedkar and cross-checking her claims with various institutions.
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