In her response before the court, Khedkar claimed that she did not manipulate or misrepresent her name to the UPSC.”There has been no change in the applicant’s first name and surname, from 2012 to 2022, as consistently reflected in all DAFs. UPSC has verified her identity through biometric data (cy and fingerprints) collected during the personality tests of 2019, 2021, and 2022, and all the documents were verified by the Commission during the personality test on May 26, 2022,” she said in her response to the court.”All the necessary verifications were also done by DoPT. As per DoPT, a medical board constituted by AIIMS conducted my medical examination. The board found my disability to be up to 47% and more than the 40% disability required for the PwBD (Person with Benchmark Disability) category,” she said in her reply, according to NDTV.According to an India Today report, Puja had allegedly secured a visually impaired certificate from Ahmednagar district hospital in 2019 and a combined certificate of visual impairment and mental illness in 2021. The report alleged that she had applied for a locomotor disability certificate at Yashwantrao Chavan Memorial Hospital, in Pimpri, in 2022, citing a 7% locomotor disability due to an old ACL tear, using a fake ration card and incorrect address. It added that Khedkar had allegedly used the certificate to apply for benefits under the “Person With Benchmark Disability” category for the civil services exam.Notably, the Delhi High Court earlier issued notices to the Delhi Police and the UPSC in response to Khedkar’s anticipatory bail application, following the dismissal of her plea by the Patiala House Court.In its earlier ruling, the trial court denied Khedkar’s bail, citing the seriousness of the allegations. The court noted that Khedkar’s actions suggested a pre-planned conspiracy, possibly involving insiders or others, to circumvent the UPSC’s scrutiny system.The trial court’s findings raised concerns about the transparency and fairness of the UPSC’s procedures, suggesting that Khedkar’s case might be just the “tip of the iceberg.”
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