Pune: Delhi Crime Branch team arrives in Pune, trouble brews for Dr Puja Khedkar

Pune: A team of Delhi Crime Branch has landed in the city to thoroughly investigate the cheating case against controversial former IAS probation officer Dr Puja Khedkar.

It is learnt that the team checked with the hospitals where she was issued disability certificates and the residents of the residential complexes where she was allegedly staying, but this could not be officially confirmed. Earlier, the Delhi Police had registered a cheating case against Khedkar based on a complaint from the UPSC.

The Personnel & Training Department sent her a notice after it was found that she had attempted the civil services exam 12 times and cheated the UPSC. However, she did not respond to the notice. The department sent her another notice and gave her time till August 14. She was directed to appear before the Deputy Secretary Rajat Kumar in New Delhi. However, she still did not respond.

Hence, the department through Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration wrote a letter to the principal of Yashada, Pune. She was directed to put up the notice at the residences of Puja Khedkar in Pune and Bhalgaon, Taluka Pathardi, Ahmednagar district. Thus, the notice was put up at the gate of her residence, sources said.

According to the notice, Khedkar was given a last chance to present her position until August 16, but she did not respond. After the UPSC rejected her candidature, she was granted protection from arrest by the Delhi High Court. A hearing in the case is scheduled for Wednesday (August 21).

Meanwhile, Puja Khedkar's problems have worsened. The Delhi police are investigating her for fraud.