Controversial IAS trainee officer Puja Khedkar flees to Dubai to evade arrest: Reports

Controversial IAS trainee officer Puja Khedkar flees to Dubai to evade arrest: Reports

File photo of Puja Khedkar.

Controversial Indian Administrative Services (IAS) trainee Puja Khedkar has fled to Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) to evade arrest after heranticipatory bail plea was rejected by a Delhi courtonThursday (Aug 1), media reports said on Friday.

A report by FirstPost on Friday (Aug 2) said that Khedkar's mobile phone was switched off and she wasnot traceable for the last couple of weeks. Khedkar has been under scrutinyfollowing complaints about alleged fake certificates and misconduct during her appointment as a probationary IAS officer in Pune.

She had been avoiding the mediaafter the controversy over her disability and OBC status claims in her Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) candidature started looming.

Delhi court rejects Khedkar's anticipatory bail

The FirstPost report said that the speculations of Khedkar fleeing to Dubai came moments after thePatiala House court in Delhirejected her anticipatory bail plea. The court said that the allegations against Khedkar were serious and required a thorough probe.

“Custodial interrogation of the accused is required to unearth the whole conspiracy and to establish the involvement of the other persons involved in the conspiracy,"Additional Sessions Judge Devender Kumar Jangala said.

UPSC cancels Khedkar's provisional candidature

A day before her bail plea was rejected, the UPSCcancelled her provisional candidature and permanently debarred her from taking all the exams or selections in the future.

The UPSCfiled a case against Khedkar for allegedly fraudulently availing the benefits of quota by faking her identity to take the civil services examination beyond the permissible number of attempts.

(With inputs from agencies)