Today(on 12th August), The Delhi High Court granted interim protection from arrest to former IAS officer Puja Khedkar until August 21, directing Delhi Police not to detain her before the next hearing. This relief comes amid serious allegations of fraudulently clearing the UPSC examination.
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NEW DELHI: Today(on 12th August), the Delhi High Court granted former trainee Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, Puja Khedkar, protection from arrest until August 21. The court directed the Delhi Police not to take her into custody before the next hearing date, offering her interim relief amidst serious accusations of fraudulently clearing the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) examination.
Justice Subramonium Prasad, who presided over the case, issued the order while hearing Khedkar’s plea for anticipatory bail. He raised questions regarding the necessity of her immediate arrest, suggesting that Khedkar might have acted alone in the alleged fraudulent activities.
The judge observed-
“At this time, it does not appear that immediate custody is necessary.”
The court has instructed Khedkar to fully cooperate with the ongoing investigation. Additionally, Justice Prasad made the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) a party to the case and issued notices to both the UPSC and the Delhi Police, requesting their responses on her interim bail application.
Background of the Case
Puja Khedkar, a 2023-batch IAS officer, faces allegations of fraudulently securing extra attempts in the UPSC examination by manipulating her identity. The accusations include altering her name, her parents’ names, her photograph, signature, email ID, mobile number, and address to deceive the system. The UPSC, upon discovering these discrepancies, lodged a formal complaint with the Delhi Police, leading to the cancellation of her candidature on July 31.
The case took a serious turn when a Delhi court previously denied Khedkar anticipatory bail, arguing that custodial interrogation was necessary to uncover the full extent of the conspiracy and to determine if others were involved. The Delhi Police then initiated an investigation, gathering documents and evidence. They are expected to summon Khedkar for further questioning.
During the High Court hearing, Khedkar’s legal team, led by advocate Bina Madhavan, argued that she should be granted the opportunity to respond to the allegations. They contended that the trial court’s decision to deny bail was overly influenced by the severity of the accusations, without adequately considering the merits of her bail plea.
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Justice Prasad criticized the trial court’s approach, stating-
“The trial court’s judgment addresses the offense committed but lacks a detailed discussion on why bail cannot be granted. Although I am not reviewing the appeal, the judgment only briefly mentions the public prosecutor’s claim about other involved parties and the need to uncover a conspiracy, without further discussion on the bail issue.”
He further remarked on the tendency of courts to become overly engrossed in the allegations in high-profile cases, sometimes losing sight of the primary purpose of the relief sought.
“In high-profile cases, we often get so caught up in the arguments that we overlook the relief being sought and the purpose of the bail request.”
-he noted.
Allegations of a Well-Planned Conspiracy
The UPSC and the Delhi Police have maintained that the case involves a meticulously planned conspiracy. Senior Advocate Naresh Kaushik, representing the UPSC, described the situation as one where “Mental faculties have been exploited in a classic manner, with multiple coincidences indicating a well-planned crime.”
The controversy surrounding Puja Khedkar’s case has broader implications, particularly concerning the misuse of reservation quotas and identity manipulation in highly competitive examinations like the UPSC. On August 1, a Delhi court not only denied bail to Khedkar but also directed the Delhi Police to investigate whether any other individuals had similarly exploited the reservation quotas under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwD) categories.
Khedkar stands accused of misusing the reservation system to secure her position in the UPSC examination. The UPSC, having found her guilty of violating the Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2022 Rules, has permanently debarred her from all future exams and selections.
The UPSC’s investigation revealed that –
“Khedkar fraudulently exceeded the permissible number of attempts under the Examination Rules by altering her identity, including changing her name, her parents’ names, her photograph/signature, email ID, mobile number, and address.”
