IAS trainee Pooja Khedkar faced a significant legal setback on Thursday when the Patiala House Court dismissed her plea for anticipatory bail. The court raised questions about Khedkar’s absence during the proceedings, expressing dissatisfaction over her non-participation.
This legal rebuff follows an FIR lodged by the Delhi Police Crime Branch, based on a complaint from the UPSC, alleging that Khedkar had provided false information in her application for the Civil Services Examination, 2022.
The court, presided over by Additional Sessions Judge Devendra Kumar Jangala, instructed the investigating agency to probe whether Khedkar had improperly availed benefits under the OBC creamy layer quota and benchmark disability, which she was not entitled to. The judge emphasized the need for the investigation to be carried out with complete impartiality, including exploring any potential inside involvement.
Khedkar, 34, initially came into the limelight following accusations related to the unauthorized use of red lights on her private Audi car, as well as demands for a separate office car. Amidst the controversy, the Pune-based IAS officer was transferred to Washim by the Pune District Collector.
Her troubles did not end with the transfer. The government subsequently halted her district training program, recalling her to the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) in Mussoorie for “necessary action.”
In a previous development, the UPSC found Khedkar guilty of violating the rules and barred her from all future exams and selections. This decision followed an investigation into her records, leading to the cancellation of her candidacy for the CSE-2022 and barring her from all future UPSC exams.
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Khedkar claims she has been the victim of misinformation and “fake news,” particularly concerning the authenticity of her disability and OBC certificates.
