The Delhi High Court has reserved its order on sacked IAS probationer Puja Khedkar’s anticipatory bail plea amid allegations of cheating for OBC and disability quota benefits in the UPSC examination. Khedkar denies the charges, claiming bias following her sexual harassment complaint against an officer. The court’s decision will impact her potential custodial interrogation.
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Thursday reserved its order on the anticipatory bail plea of sacked IAS probationer Puja Khedkar, who faces allegations of cheating and misrepresentation to avail OBC and disability quota benefits in the 2022 UPSC Civil Services Examination. Justice Chandra Dhari Singh stated that the interim protection from arrest granted to Khedkar will continue until the court delivers its decision.
“Heard both sides. Judgement reserved,” remarked the court after hearing arguments from Khedkar’s counsel, the Delhi police, and the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).
Khedkar is accused of falsifying information to gain reservation benefits during her application for the prestigious examination. The Delhi police and the UPSC have alleged discrepancies in her documentation, including changes in her name across different attempts and inconsistencies in her disability certificate.
Khedkar has strongly denied the allegations. Her counsel emphasized her willingness to cooperate with the investigation, arguing that “all the material is documentary in nature, and custodial interrogation is not required.”
The Delhi police and UPSC counsel opposed the plea, asserting that custodial interrogation was necessary to uncover the “magnitude of the fraud” and identify other individuals who might be involved in a “deep-rooted conspiracy.” The police further argued that electronic evidence from Khedkar’s devices had not yet been examined.
The UPSC counsel insisted that Khedkar’s actions constituted fraud against the commission and the public, compromising the integrity of the civil services examination. They contended that such fraud undermines public trust and sought the dismissal of her anticipatory bail plea.
Khedkar’s counsel maintained that the proceedings were a “vindictive aftermath” of a sexual harassment complaint she had filed against an officer. They claimed the accusations stemmed from bias and sought protection for her client, arguing that custody was unnecessary given her readiness to cooperate.
The case took a serious turn in July when the UPSC initiated actions against Khedkar, alleging fraudulent attempts to clear the examination by misrepresenting her identity. This led to a criminal case filed by the UPSC, and the Delhi police registered an FIR invoking provisions of the IPC, the IT Act, and the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act.
The police have stressed that granting bail could hinder the investigation into the “deep-rooted conspiracy” with potential far-reaching implications on the civil services selection process.
The High Court’s decision, awaited after the reserved judgment, will determine whether Khedkar secures pre-arrest protection or faces custodial interrogation. The interim protection from arrest will remain in effect until the court delivers its final order.
This case underscores concerns over the integrity of the civil services examination and highlights the challenges of ensuring transparency in public service recruitments.
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