The Delhi High Court, presided over by Justice Subramaniam Prasad, has called for a response from Puja Khedkar regarding allegations of perjury leveled by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). The allegations arose in connection with her anticipatory bail application amid accusations of falsely claiming OBC and disability quota benefits in the civil services examination.
During Thursday’s hearing, the court directed Khedkar to file her reply by September 26 to the UPSC’s claims that she made misleading statements under oath about the collection of her biometrics during the examination’s personality tests. Senior advocate Naresh Kaushik, representing the UPSC, criticized Khedkar’s actions as “dangerously wrong,” asserting that her claims were entirely fabricated to deceive the court and secure favorable rulings.
The UPSC’s application details that Khedkar, on her affidavit, falsely stated that the commission had gathered biometric data during her personality tests—a procedure the UPSC confirmed has never been conducted for any candidate in the history of the civil services exams. This accusation of perjury is part of broader legal proceedings where Khedkar faces charges of cheating and misuse of reservation benefits.
Khedkar, a former IAS probationer, has consistently denied the allegations. However, her counsel described the UPSC’s recent application as a “pressure tactic,” indicating the tense legal battle ahead.
The backdrop of this legal drama includes serious charges against Khedkar for manipulating information on her UPSC Civil Services Examination 2022 application to illicitly gain reservation benefits. She was previously granted interim protection from arrest by the high court, a decision both the UPSC and Delhi Police have challenged, arguing that her continued freedom could obstruct a thorough investigation into what they describe as a “deep-rooted conspiracy” with broad implications for the integrity of the civil services examination and public trust.
The UPSC contends that Khedkar’s custodial interrogation is crucial to uncover the full extent of the alleged fraud, suggesting potential collusion with others. In July, following these allegations, the UPSC took multiple legal actions against Khedkar, including filing a criminal case for exploiting loopholes to secure additional attempts at the civil services exam by faking her identity. The Delhi Police has also registered an FIR under various statutes, including the Indian Penal Code and the Information Technology Act, highlighting the severity of the accusations.
