Ex-IAS trainee Puja Khedkar questioned by Crime Branch over fake certificates in UPSC exam
Tired of too many ads?
Remove Ads
Tired of too many ads?
Remove Ads
Former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) trainee Puja Khedkar appeared before the Crime Branch at Kamla Market here on Friday for questioning related to an FIR filed against her for allegedly submitting forged certificates to clear her 2022 Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) exam.Speaking to ANI, Khedkar said, "As per the Supreme Court orders, I have come here to cooperate in the investigation. I said it since day one that in whatever way possible, I am ready to cooperate. All the allegations against me that I have submitted fake certificates are false. I have been and I will be in India - whatever people are saying that I have fled to another country is wrong."Earlier, the bench adjourned the hearing of the case as her counsel told the bench that a counter-affidavit had been filed on her behalf, but it was not showing on the court's record.The top court asked the Delhi police to complete the probe fast and asked why it was not completing the investigation when Khedkar herself had said it in an affidavit that she was willing to cooperate.Khedkar is accused of fraudulently availing a reservation meant for Other Backwards Classes (OBC) and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities in order to secure a seat by taking the UPSC exam The Delhi High Court while dismissing anticipatory bail plea had made strong observations against Khedkar saying that its a "classic example of fraud, not only with a Constitutional body but also with society and the nation as a whole."The High Court had emphasised that interrogation is necessary to uncover the conspiracy involved. The High Court had also highlighted that the father and mother held high-ranking positions, suggesting the possibility of collusion with influential individuals.Khedkar is facing criminal charges filed by Delhi Police, accusing her of cheating and unlawfully claiming OBC and disability quota benefits in the Civil Services Examination.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Deccan Herald
23 minutes ago
- Deccan Herald
UPSC aspirant sends final message to brother seeking help before dying in Karol Bagh mall fire
Barely 48-hours after returning to Delhi to restart his UPSC preparations, the 25-year-old aspirant from Banaras found himself trapped in a lift at Vishal Mega Mart in Karol Bagh, as fire raged through the building.
Hans India
3 hours ago
- Hans India
Gogi Gang operative who aided 2016 police attack nabbed in Goa
New Delhi: In a significant breakthrough, the Crime Branch of Delhi Police has arrested a proclaimed offender and a key member of the dreaded Jitender Gogi gang from North Goa. The accused, identified as Mohit alias Panchhi, was wanted in several serious criminal cases, including the audacious 2016 attack on a Delhi Police escort team in Bahadurgarh to free gangster Jitender Gogi from custody. "This brazen attack not only endangered police personnel but also demonstrated the gang's organized and violent methods. A criminal case related to this incident was duly registered at Sadar Police Station, Bahadurgarh", the Delhi Police said in a statement. Acting on specific intelligence inputs, a team led by Inspector Rampal of the Crime Branch's Northern Range (NDR) tracked Mohit to Martyr Circle, North Goa, and apprehended him on July 4. According to police, the accused had been frequently changing his location and using mobile phones away from his hideouts to dodge surveillance. Mohit had earlier been arrested in 2018 in connection with a case registered under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). In February 2025, he was granted a four-day interim bail to attend his sister's wedding. However, he deliberately failed to surrender and was subsequently declared a proclaimed offender by the court. "Since then, he had been evading arrest and was hiding in various locations in South India, particularly in Mumbai, Goa, and Karnataka", said Aditya Gauta, DCP Crime Branch. The arrest follows weeks of technical surveillance and human intelligence gathering. "During initial interrogation, the accused disclosed his identity as Mohit alias Panchi, a resident of Village Panchhi Jatan, Ganaur, Sonipat, Haryana. He admitted that he had been declared a Proclaimed Offender in FIR No. 252/18 under Sections 3 & 4 of MCOCA, Alipur, Delhi (being investigated by Special Cell), after intentionally failing to surrender before the Hon'ble Court", the Delhi Police said. The Gogi gang has been involved in multiple high-profile criminal activities across Delhi and Haryana and has been under the scanner of both Delhi Police and central agencies in recent years.
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
2 arrested with brown sugar worth Rs 2 Lakh in Indore
Representative image. INDORE: The Crime Branch of Indore Police on Saturday arrested two accused with 14.87 grams of illegal narcotic substance brown sugar and seized a motorcycle, with the estimated international market value of the seized contraband being around Rs 2 lakh. Additional DCP Rajesh Dandotiya said that acting on specific intelligence inputs and in line with ongoing directives from senior officials to clamp down on illegal drug trade in the city, the Crime Branch has been conducting surveillance on suspects involved in the sale and distribution of narcotics. "During routine checking near Bhairav Mandir in Shivaji Nagar, the team spotted two men on a motorcycle acting suspiciously. On noticing the police, the duo tried to flee but were quickly caught by the team and brown sugar was seized from them," he said. Upon questioning, the accused identified themselves as Shubham Malaiya, 29, a resident of Chhatripura, and Aman Narwaria, 27, of Indira Nagar, Malharganj. Both work at a garment shop in the Sitlamata Bazaar area, he added. Preliminary interrogation revealed that the accused are addicted to drugs and were engaged in buying narcotics at lower rates and selling them at higher prices to addicts in the city to sustain their addiction. Shubham, who has studied up to Class 5, confessed to being involved in at least half a dozen previous criminal cases. Aman has studied up to Class 9 and also works in the same market area. The police have registered a case at the Crime Branch under Section 8/21 of the NDPS Act. Further investigation is underway to trace the supply chain and uncover more individuals linked to the network.
