“UPSC Doesn’t Have Power To Disqualify Me”, Claims Puja Khedkar

New Delhi: Former IAS probationer Puja Khedkar, whose candidature has been cancelled due to allegations of cheating and wrongly securing OBC (Other Backward Class) and disability quota benefits, claimed before the Delhi High Court that the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) – which conducts the civil services exam – has no power to disqualify her.

In July, the UPSC cancelled Puja Khedkar’s candidature and also debarred her from future exams.

Puja Khedkar is now seeking anticipatory bail in the criminal case against her. In her response filed before the court on the UPSC’s charges against her, she stated, “Once selected and appointed as a Probationary Officer, UPSC does not have the power to disqualify the candidature.”

She said that now only the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) of the Central Government can take action against her.

According to the UPSC, Puja Khedkar attempted the civil services qualifying test more than the six times permitted for a general category candidate by changing her name, and that of her parents. But Puja Khedkar claimed that there has been no change in her name or surname from 2012 to 2022. She also reiterated that she had not given any wrong information about herself to the UPSC.

The UPSC, earlier this month, opposed in the Delhi High Court an anticipatory bail petition by Puja Khedkar, saying she committed “fraud” against the commission and the public.

The Delhi Police has also sought dismissal of the pre-arrest bail plea on the ground that any relief to her would hinder its probe into the “deep-rooted conspiracy” and that the case has wider implications on public trust as well as the integrity of the civil services examination.

The Delhi High Court extended Puja Khedkar’s interim protection from arrest till next hearing on September 5.