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Maharashtra

Delhi HC to pronounce today verdict on anticipatory bail plea of ex-IAS trainee officer Puja Khedkar

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New Delhi, Dec 23: The Delhi High Court is slated to deliver on Monday its judgment on anticipatory bail plea of sacked Maharashtra cadre probationary IAS officer Puja Khedkar, who allegedly submitted false OBC and PwBD (Persons with Benchmark Disabilities) certificates and fraudulently availed attempts beyond the permissible limits provided for the Civil Services Examination (CSE) by faking her identity.

As per the causelist published on the website of the Delhi HC, a bench of Justice Chandra Dhari Singh will pronounce its verdict on December 23.

Earlier on November 28, Justice Singh-led Bench reserved its decision after hearing both sides. It was then clarified that till the judgment is delivered, the interim relief granted earlier to Puja Khedkar shielding her from arrest will continue.

Asking Khedkar to cooperate with the investigation, the Delhi High Court, in an interim order passed on August 12, granted her protection from arrest.

Earlier, a court here had turned down her anticipatory bail plea and asked the investigating agency to find out if anyone from inside the UPSC had helped Khedkar.

Widening the scope of the probe, Additional Sessions Judge Devender Kumar Jangala had asked Delhi Police to investigate if other people recommended by the UPSC have availed quota benefits without entitlement.

The Centre, on September 7, sacked Khedkar from the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) with immediate effect, a month after the UPSC cancelled her selection in government service. Khedkar has been found guilty of faking and wrongly availing OBC and disability quota benefits.

After cancelling her selection, the UPSC also barred her for life from taking the entrance exam after finding her guilty of faking her identity to take the exam multiple times.

In a status report submitted to the Delhi High Court, Delhi Police had contended that former Maharashtra cadre probationary IAS officer Khedkar had submitted two separate disability certificates for her UPSC exam. The disability certificates dated 2018 and 2021 citing ‘multiple disabilities’ were purportedly issued by the Ahmednagar District Civil Hospital for her UPSC attempts made in 2022 and 2023.

However, as per Delhi Police’s status report, the hospital authorities had denied that the certificates claiming ‘multiple disabilities’ were issued to her by them. It was found that Khedkar availed relaxed criteria for OBC candidates and persons with disabilities.

It then came to light that her father, a former Maharashtra government officer, had property to the tune of Rs 40 crore and that she did not qualify for the non-creamy layer OBC quota.

The UPSC had said that its Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) “could not detect her number of attempts primarily because she changed not only her name but also her parents’ names”.

The Delhi High Court also issued notice to Khedkar on an application filed by the UPSC alleging that she committed perjury by swearing a false affidavit and making a false statement in relation to her anticipatory bail plea.

In its application, the UPSC disputed that it did not collect any biometrics (eyes and fingerprints) during Khedkar’s personality test and she made a “false statement” regarding the collection of her biometrics for obtaining favourable orders.

Maharashtra

Sensational shootout in Chembur, search for accused continues, investigation continues to find out who plotted the shootout

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Mumbai: A shooting incident on a construction company owner in Chembur Diamond Garden area of ​​Mumbai at 9:50 pm last night created a sensation. Three unidentified motorcycle-borne assailants attacked the builder with a lethal weapon, but Sadru survived the attack and has been admitted to a nearby hospital. The shootout took place when he was passing through Sinha Panvel Highway. Police are investigating who instigated the unidentified assailants to shoot at Sadru and who plotted the shooting. DCP Nunath Dhole said that the search for the assailants is on and a case has been registered after the shootout. Mumbai Police is investigating the case from every angle to find out if Sadru had any personal enmity or malice with anyone. A sketch of the assailants has also been prepared. Mumbai Crime Branch is also conducting a parallel investigation. A police team has been formed to search for the assailants, but no arrests have been made yet. Mumbai Police said that the attackers fled after the firing. Mumbai Police is investigating the CCTV footage as well as the direction in which the shooters fled. Along with searching for the accused, the police has also started gathering information in this regard from informers.

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Maharashtra

Threat to Kirit Somaiya… Demand for arrest of Yusuf Ansari within 48 hours, ultimatum to take action against loudspeakers and mosques

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Mumbai: BJP leader Kirit Somaiya has once again spread venom by demanding the removal of illegal mosque and loudspeakers in Govindi Shivaji Nagar. He has demanded action against illegal mosques within the limits of Govindi Shivaji Nagar and directed the police to take action against the loudspeakers and said that if action is not taken against the illegal mosque and loudspeakers within 48 hours, the BJP will protest.

Apart from this, the BJP has also demanded action and arrest against Yusuf Ansari, who threatened Kirit Somaiya on social media, and said that the police should arrest Yusuf Ansari immediately. Kirit Somaiya has termed the illegal mosque as land jihad and said that she is not afraid of goons like Yusuf Ansari, but will intensify her protest. Kirit Somaiya has also demanded action against illegal Bangladeshis in Govindi Shivaji Nagar. This mischief of Kirit Somaiya has created a stir in the area. In view of Kirit Somaiya’s visit, the police had made strict security arrangements.

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Maharashtra

Mumbai Waqf Act protest proved costly, notice to Asif Shaikh, police accused of harassment and nuisance, demand for action from Police Commissioner

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Mumbai: Seeking permission for a protest against the Waqf Act in Mumbai on April 18 proved costly for Asif Shaikh and his family and the police have now started harassing Asif Shaikh and his wife, against which Asif Shaikh has now lodged a complaint with the Police Commissioner and requested to take action against the policemen who entered their house without permission.

Against the harassment and hooliganism of Tilak Nagar Police Station, Asif Shaikh and his wife Jasmine Shaikh have requested the Mumbai Police Commissioner to take strict action against the policemen who have harassed them by pasting a notice not to protest under the Waqf Act at their house in the absence of her husband. Jasmine Shaikh has said that my husband was not at home and in his absence the police not only harassed us at our house, but now the police is also harassing and troubling the people of our neighborhood so that they do not support us.

Asif Sheikh has requested the Mumbai Police Commissioner to take action in this regard, otherwise he will be forced to commit suicide and will commit self-immolation at the Mumbai Police Commissioner Headquarters. Asif Sheikh said in his video message that the local police station has made it clear that they are misbehaving with him on the orders of the Commissioner. He said that apart from harassing my wife, the police officers have also made a video of the women of our house in a nude state, which is illegal, but the police officers are stubborn and say that they have permission to make the video. When DCP Nunath Dhola was talked to in this regard, he said that permission was not given to protest against the Waqf Act and Asif Sheikh and others have been given notice, but the DCP has denied the allegation of harassing other people of the area.

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