NEW DELHI: A Delhi

court

on Thursday dismissed the anticipatory bail application of

Puja

Khedkar – a trainee IAS officer who has been accused of

cheating

and

forgery

, and whose candidature was cancelled by

UPSC

– saying that allegations against her are grave and serious, which require thorough investigation.
“Custodial interrogation of the applicant/accused is required to unearth the whole conspiracy and to establish the involvement of other persons involved in the conspiracy,” additional sessions judge Devender Kumar Jangala said.

The court, noting the material on record which clearly reflected “mens rea” or “guilty mind” on part of Khedkar, rejected the contention raised by Khedkar’s counsel that she is being subjected to “media trial” and “witch hunt.”
The court said Khedkar has not only cheated and defrauded the UPSC, she has snatched the lawful rights of eligible aspirants with benchmark disability.