Delhi Police Allege Suspended IAS Officer Puja Khedkar Submitted Two Disability Certificates, One Suspected as Forged

The Delhi Police, in a new status report submitted to the Delhi High Court, has raised concerns that suspended trainee IAS officer Puja Khedkar may have submitted a forged disability certificate. According to the report, Khedkar provided two disability certificates, allegedly issued by the Medical Authority in Ahmednagar, Maharashtra, during the Civil Services Examinations in 2022 and 2023.

Upon investigation, it was found that one of the certificates (No. MH2610119900342407) was not recorded as issued by the Medical Authority in Ahmednagar, suggesting that it might be forged. The Civil Surgeon’s office in Ahmednagar confirmed that the certificate in question did not match their records.

In a previous court session, the Delhi High Court extended interim protection from arrest for Khedkar. Justice Subramonium Prasad postponed the hearing on her anticipatory bail plea to September 5, awaiting the Delhi Police’s updated status report.

Khedkar, who faces charges of cheating and misusing OBC and disability quota benefits, argued in her recent court filing that the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) does not have the authority to disqualify her. The High Court had earlier issued notices to both the Delhi Police and UPSC regarding her anticipatory bail request.

The court also instructed the police not to arrest Khedkar while the case remains under review, noting that immediate arrest was not necessary. The High Court observed that the trial court’s earlier denial of bail lacked a substantial discussion of the case, only briefly mentioning the Public Prosecutor’s claims of involvement by others.

UPSC has labeled Khedkar as the “mastermind” behind the alleged fraud, arguing that her actions likely required assistance from others, thereby justifying the need for custodial interrogation. Khedkar’s plea to the Delhi High Court follows the rejection of her bail request by the Patiala House Court, which emphasized the seriousness of the allegations against her, including falsifying identity to gain extra attempts in the civil services examination.