Tue Jan 14 13:58:20 UTC 2025: ## Former IAS Trainee Appeals Supreme Court After Anticipatory Bail Denied
**New Delhi, [Date]** – Puja Khedkar, the former IAS trainee officer whose appointment was revoked last year following allegations of fraud and forgery, has appealed to the Supreme Court against a Delhi High Court decision denying her anticipatory bail.
The Delhi High Court, in December, strongly criticized Khedkar, stating that the charges against her – including forgery, cheating, and misrepresentation of disability – constitute a significant fraud against the UPSC and the nation. The court deemed her actions part of a larger conspiracy to obtain unfair advantage through falsified documents and a changed surname, rendering her unfit for government service. The court noted that Khedkar allegedly exceeded the permitted number of attempts at the civil services exam by changing her and her parents’ names to avoid detection.
Khedkar’s alleged actions include falsely claiming a physical disability to qualify under the “divyang” (disabled) category and forging a backward class certificate. While Khedkar claims the UPSC verified her identity through biometric data and that she only altered her middle name, the UPSC has revoked her selection and banned her from future exams. The Union government subsequently dismissed her from service.
Khedkar maintains her innocence, asserting that she is being targeted due to a previous sexual harassment complaint she filed against a senior officer. The Supreme Court is expected to hear her appeal on Wednesday.
First Piper 