Delhi HC tells Puja Khedkar to respond to perjury claim by UPSC

Delhi High Court seeks Puja Khedkar's response to UPSC's perjury allegations, hearing set for September 26, 2024.

The Delhi High Court on Thursday (September 19, 2024) sought the stand of Puja Khedkar on the Union Public Service Commission’s (UPSC) allegation that the former IAS probationer committed perjury by making a false statement in relation to her anticipatory bail plea.

The court asked Ms. Khedkar to submit her reply before the next date of hearing on September 26., 2024

Editorial | A case of excesses: On the Puja Khedkar case

In its fresh application, the UPSC submitted that Ms. Khedkar, in her rejoinder, made an “absolutely false” statement on affidavit that the commission had collected her biometrics during personality tests.

The commission sought the initiation of an inquiry and appropriate proceedings against her for the violation. It, additionally, stated that in another proceeding pending in the High Court, Ms. Khedkar had committed “perjury”.

The UPSC had previously claimed that Ms. Khedkar made a false statement that she had not been served with the order by which her candidature was cancelled and she came to know of it only through the press release issued by the commission.

The UPSC had said the July 31 communication by which Ms. Khedkar’s candidature was cancelled was communicated to her on her registered email ID the same day. Last week, the court asked Ms. Khedkar to file a reply to the UPSC’s application.