Key Takeaways
- The Supreme Court has granted interim protection to IAS probationer Puja Khedkar in a quota fraud case until February 14, 2025.
- Puja Khedkar is accused of cheating and misusing OBC and disability quota benefits during the UPSC civil services examination.
- The UPSC has opposed Puja Khedkar’s anticipatory bail plea, insisting on custodial interrogation to expose the magnitude of the alleged fraud.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday protected former IAS probationer Puja Khedkar from arrest until February 14, 2025, in a case in which she is accused of cheating and misusing OBC and disability quota benefits during the UPSC civil services examination.
The Supreme Court bench issued notices to the Delhi government and the UPSC on Khedkar’s plea seeking anticipatory bail. Justice B.V. Nagarathna and Justice Satish Chandra Sharma are part of the bench.
“Issue notice returnable on February 14, 2025. Till the next date of hearing, no coercive steps shall be taken against the petitioner,” the bench directed.
During the hearing, Senior Advocate Siddharth Luthra, representing Khedkar, argued that the Delhi High Court had made strong observations against her while rejecting her anticipatory bail plea. The Apex Court, however, noted that no harm had befallen Khedkar thus far, stating, “Nothing has happened to her; no one has touched her.”
Luthra submitted that Khedkar had already lost her job and was pursuing legal remedies, but if the case went to trial, the High Court’s findings could lead to her conviction.
The matter is scheduled for hearing on February 14.
Khedkar is accused of falsifying information in her application for the 2022 UPSC civil services examination to gain reservation benefits. She has denied the allegations.
Delhi High Court dismissed her anticipatory bail plea earlier, citing a strong prima facie case against her. The court highlighted the need for an investigation to uncover a “larger conspiracy” to manipulate the system, stating that granting anticipatory bail would adversely impact the probe.
“The anticipatory bail plea is dismissed. Interim protection from arrest is vacated,” the High Court had ruled.
Khedkar had been granted interim protection from arrest since August 12, 2024, when the High Court issued a notice on her anticipatory bail plea, which was subsequently extended multiple times.
The High Court had emphasized the integrity of the UPSC examination, calling it the most prestigious test in the country. It described the case as a “classic instance of fraud” against a constitutional body and society at large.
Both Delhi Police and the UPSC opposed Khedkar’s anticipatory bail plea in the High Court. While Khedkar’s counsel argued that her custody was unnecessary as the case was based on documentary evidence, the Delhi Police and the UPSC insisted on custodial interrogation to expose the magnitude of the alleged fraud and identify other possible conspirators.
The UPSC initiated actions against Khedkar, including lodging a criminal case, accusing her of attempting to avail benefits fraudulently and committing fraud against both the commission and the public. The Delhi Police has filed an FIR against her for multiple offences related to the allegations.
