Delhi High Court issues notice to ex-IAS Puja Khedkar on second perjury application by UPSC

The Delhi High Court on Thursday issued notice to former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) trainee officer Puja Khedkar on a perjury application filed by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) accusing her of lying to court [Puja Manorama Dilip Khedkar v. Union Public Service Commission & Ors].

Khedkar has been in the news for fraudulently clearing the civil services examination

Justice Subramonium Prasad, who is hearing Khedkar's anticipatory bail plea, sought her response to UPSC's perjury application and listed the matter for further hearing on September 26.

According to UPSC, Khedkar provided false information to the senior counsel representing her, leading to incorrect submissions before the court.

In the perjury application, it was submitted that Khedkar lied on oath by filing a false affidavit along with her bail application. The plea said that though the UPSC order challenged by Khedkar was issued on July 31, 2024, her sworn affidavit bore the date of July 28, 2024.

Hence, there should be an enquiry against Khedkar and she should be prosecuted for perjury, UPSC contended.

The perjury application was filed under Section 379 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, which replaced the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).

UPSC was represented by Senior Advocate Naresh Kaushik with advocates Mayank Sharma and Vardhman Kaushik.

Khedkar was represented by Advocate Bina Madhavan.

Khedkar is accused of fraudulently availing the reservation of Other Backward Classes (OBC) and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PWD) quota to clear the UPSC exam.

The Delhi Police lodged a case against Khedkar on a complaint filed by the UPSC. Last month, the High Court granted Khedkar interim protection from arrest.

This is the second perjury application filed by UPSC before the High Court against Khedkar.

On September 12, Justice Jyoti Singh had issued notice on another perjury application filed by UPSC which claimed that Khedkar had given false information to Court in another petition filed by her challenging cancellation of her candidature.