In the latest hearing, the Supreme Court provided more time to the Delhi police to respond to Khedkar’s appeal, which challenges the Delhi High Court’s decision to reject her anticipatory bail. The Court also directed Khedkar to fully cooperate with the ongoing investigation.
NEW DELHI: Today, 14th Feb, The Supreme Court extended its interim order until March 17, 2025, offering protection from arrest to former IAS trainee Puja Khedkar. She is accused of falsifying documents to gain eligibility for the 2022 Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) examination.
In the latest hearing, the Supreme Court provided more time to the Delhi police to respond to Khedkar’s appeal, which challenges the Delhi High Court’s decision to reject her anticipatory bail. The Court also directed Khedkar to fully cooperate with the ongoing investigation.
Khedkar’s lawyer, senior advocate Siddharth Luthra, stated that the police were not calling her for questioning, and she was ready to appear before them. The Supreme Court then asked the Additional Solicitor General (ASG) to submit a response within three weeks.
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On January 15, 2025, the Supreme Court had issued a notice to the Delhi government and the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) regarding Khedkar’s plea for anticipatory bail.
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.
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,”
Earlier, the Delhi High Court had dismissed her plea for anticipatory bail. The High Court found there was a strong prima facie case against Khedkar and stressed the need for a thorough investigation to uncover a “larger conspiracy” to manipulate the system.
The High Court added, “Anticipatory bail plea is dismissed. Interim protection from arrest is vacated.”
Khedkar had initially been granted interim protection from arrest on August 12, 2024, when the High Court issued a notice on her anticipatory bail plea. This interim protection has been extended several times.
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Puja Khedkar faces serious accusations of submitting false information in her UPSC exam application in 2022 to gain reservation benefits. She has denied all the charges against her. In response to the allegations, UPSC took action against Khedkar in July 2024.
This included filing a criminal case for allegedly misrepresenting her identity to appear for the UPSC exams. The Delhi Police later registered a First Information Report (FIR) under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Information Technology Act, and the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act.
