Today, On 15th January, The Supreme Court granted interim protection from arrest to former IAS trainee Puja Khedkar. She is accused of fraudulently using reservation benefits meant for Other Backward Classes (OBC) and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities to pass the UPSC exam. Khedkar has denied the charges, and the court’s order allows her temporary relief. The case is under further investigation.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court directed that no coercive actions be taken against former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) trainee officer Puja Khedkar in connection with the criminal case filed against her.
A bench comprising Justice B.V. Nagarathna and Justice Satish Chandra Sharma issued the order in response to Khedkar’s plea, which challenged the Delhi High Court’s decision to deny her anticipatory bail.
Khedkar faces accusations of fraudulently obtaining reservations intended for Other Backward Classes (OBC) and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities to pass the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) exam.
The Court ordered,
“Issue notice to the respondent. Serve it to the State (NCT of Delhi). Counsel accepts notice for the State. Returnable on 14 February 2025. Until the next hearing date, no coercive steps shall be taken against the petitioner,”
Senior Advocate Siddharth Luthra, representing Puja Khedkar, stated that she has not been summoned for questioning by the police.
The Court noted that “nothing has happened to her so far” and remarked, “No one has touched (her).”
However, Luthra pointed out that the High Court had made strong remarks against her when denying her pre-arrest bail.
The Court reiterated that the police had not taken any action against her, saying,
“But nothing happened to you. No one called you.”
Luthra pressed for protection, asserting,
“If the matter goes to trial, there will be a conviction… there are strong findings.”
The Court then inquired about her current situation.
Luthra replied,
“She has lost her job. Now she is pursuing her legal remedies.”
The Court subsequently granted her interim protection from arrest.
In her plea, Khedkar argued that the FIR against her includes offenses based on documents and application forms already in the prosecution’s possession, claiming that further custodial interrogation is unnecessary. She emphasized that she has no criminal history and is an unmarried woman with a benchmark disability.
She also mentioned that her appointment followed a physical verification into the All India Services, which entitles her to protection under the All India Services Act and Rules. Additionally, she contended that she is entitled to further protection under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act until proven otherwise.
Following the emergence of allegations against Khedkar, the UPSC canceled her selection and permanently barred her from all future exams and selections, finding her “guilty of violating CSE-2022 Rules.” The Delhi Police subsequently filed a case against her based on a complaint from the UPSC.
Khedkar then sought anticipatory bail from the High Court.
On August 12 last year, the High Court granted her interim protection from arrest, which was later vacated on December 23, 2024.
Justice Chandra Dhari Singh of the High Court stated that a prima facie case had been established regarding Khedkar’s actions to deceive the UPSC by claiming benefits of quotas intended for Other Backward Classes (OBC) and Persons with Disabilities (PwD), despite her ineligibility.
The judge noted that the evidence suggested she was not a suitable candidate for such benefits and that she had forged documents in collusion with unknown individuals, prompting her to approach the Supreme Court.