New Delhi. Controversial former trainee IAS of Maharashtra cadre Pooja Khedkar has received another big setback today. Delhi’s Patiala House Court rejected Pooja’s plea seeking anticipatory bail. Additional Sessions Judge of Patiala House Court Devender Kumar Jangla directed the Crime Branch to expand the scope of its investigation impartially. The judge also raised questions on Pooja’s absence in court. The court also directed the investigating agency to trace those UPSC candidates who have obtained the benefit of reservation by getting disability certificates made in a wrong manner despite not being eligible. Advocate Bina Madhavan presented arguments on behalf of Pooja in the court while advocate Naresh Kaushik presented arguments on behalf of UPSC.
Earlier yesterday, UPSC took a big action against Pooja by cancelling her IAS candidature and taking away her officership. Not only this, Pooja has also been banned from appearing in UPSC examinations in future. Many serious allegations were made against Pooja, including taking advantage of reservation in UPSC examination by obtaining disability certificate in a wrong way. After examining the available records, UPSC has found Pooja Manorama Dilip Khedkar guilty of violating CSE-2022 rules.
In this case, an FIR was also registered against Pooja by UPSC and a notice was issued to Pooja asking her to answer why her appointment should not be cancelled. Along with this, Pooja’s training duty was stopped midway and she was ordered to report to the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration in Mussoorie. However, Pooja did not report to the Mussoorie Academy nor did she respond to the notice of UPSC. To avoid arrest in the FIR case registered by UPSC, Pooja filed an interim bail application in Delhi’s Patiala House Court.
