Court Denies Bail to IAS Trainee Puja Khedkar Over UPSC Fraud Allegations
New Delhi, August 1: Delhi’s Patiala House Court has dismissed the anticipatory bail plea of Puja Khedkar, a trainee Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer accused of using fraudulent means to pass the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) examination.
Judge’s Orders
Additional Sessions Judge Devender Kumar Jangala instructed the investigation agency to expand its probe. The agency is to investigate candidates recommended by the UPSC in recent years who may have exceeded the permissible age limit under the OBC quota and those who received benefits for persons with benchmark disabilities despite not being eligible. The Delhi Police have also been instructed to determine whether UPSC officials provided assistance to Puja Khedkar in her alleged fraudulent activities.
Khedkar’s Defense
Puja Khedkar claims her innocence, stating she has been wrongly accused. Her lawyer, Advocate Bina Madhvan, argued that Khedkar has a permanent benchmark disability with a 47% disability percentage. Khedkar emphasized her status as a law-abiding citizen and asserted her right to protection under Article 21 of the Constitution of India.
Prosecution’s Argument
Special Public Prosecutor Atul Srivastava opposed the bail plea, stating that Khedkar has been changing her stance, which justifies the need for custodial interrogation. Senior Advocate Naresh Kaushik, representing the UPSC, argued that Khedkar provided false information about her attempts and abused the process of law.
Current Status
Khedkar’s training has been suspended, and she has been recalled to the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) in Mussoorie. The UPSC has initiated actions against her, including criminal prosecution.
Doubts Revealed
Court -: A court is a place where judges make decisions about legal issues and disputes. It’s like a big room where people go to solve problems according to the law.
Bail -: Bail is money or a promise given to the court to let someone stay out of jail while they wait for their trial. If they don’t show up for their trial, they lose the money or get in trouble.
IAS Trainee -: An IAS trainee is someone who is training to become an Indian Administrative Service officer. These officers help run the government and make important decisions for the country.
Puja Khedkar -: Puja Khedkar is the name of the person who is training to be an IAS officer and is accused of cheating in the UPSC exam.
UPSC -: UPSC stands for Union Public Service Commission. It’s an organization in India that conducts exams to select people for important government jobs.
Fraud -: Fraud means cheating or lying to get something unfairly. In this case, it means Puja Khedkar is accused of cheating to pass the UPSC exam.
Patiala House Court -: Patiala House Court is a famous court in Delhi where judges make decisions about legal cases.
Anticipatory Bail -: Anticipatory bail is a special permission to stay out of jail before being arrested, given when someone thinks they might be arrested soon.
Delhi Police -: Delhi Police is the police force responsible for maintaining law and order in Delhi, the capital city of India.
Criminal Prosecution -: Criminal prosecution means taking someone to court because they are accused of breaking the law. If found guilty, they can be punished.