The court noticed that not much progress has been made in the investigation and asked the Delhi Police to finish the probe quickly.
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday asked former IAS probationer Puja Khedkar to appear before the Delhi Police on May 2 in connection with a case where she is accused of cheating and misusing OBC and disability reservation benefits in the UPSC civil services examination.
A Supreme Court bench of Justice B V Nagarathna and Justice Satish Chandra Sharma said that no action should be taken to arrest Khedkar until May 21, which is the next date of hearing. This means she has got temporary relief from arrest.
The court also noticed that not much progress has been made in the investigation and asked the Delhi Police to finish the probe quickly.
During the hearing, Additional Solicitor General S V Raju, who was representing the Delhi Police, told the court that:
“Khedkar’s custodial interrogation was required.”
This means the police want to question her while she is in custody for better investigation.
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But the Supreme Court did not allow arrest at this stage and gave her interim protection. This means Khedkar cannot be arrested at least until the next court hearing.
Puja Khedkar is accused of giving wrong information in her application form for the 2022 UPSC exam to take benefit of reservation. She allegedly used fake claims about OBC category and disability to qualify for the civil services. However, she has denied all these charges and said she has not done anything wrong.
The bench adjourned the case after Khedkar’s counsel informed them that a counter affidavit had been filed on her behalf but was not reflected in the court’s records.
Previously, the Supreme Court urged the Delhi police to expedite their investigation, questioning why it was not progressing faster, especially since Khedkar had stated in an affidavit her willingness to cooperate.
The bench remarked that while it is essential to uncover the source from which Khedkar allegedly obtained the forged certificates, her custody was not strictly required.
Khedkar has appealed to the Supreme Court following the Delhi High Court’s rejection of her anticipatory bail request. In January, the apex court granted her interim protection from arrest and instructed her to cooperate with the investigation.
She is accused of fraudulently claiming reservations meant for Other Backward Classes (OBC) and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities to pass the UPSC exam.
The Delhi High Court, while dismissing her anticipatory bail plea, made strong remarks against Khedkar, stating it was a “classic example of fraud, not only with a constitutional body but also with society and the nation as a whole.”
The court emphasized that interrogation was necessary to reveal the conspiracy involved, also noting that Khedkar’s parents held high-ranking positions, which raised concerns about potential collusion with influential individuals.
Khedkar is facing criminal charges filed by the Delhi Police, accusing her of cheating and unlawfully claiming benefits from the OBC and disability quotas in the civil services examination.
Earlier, the Delhi High Court had rejected her anticipatory bail, which is a request made to avoid arrest. The court said:
“A strong prima facie case against Khedkar” was made, and there is a need to “unearth the larger conspiracy” to manipulate the system.
The High Court further said that:
“Allowing a reprieve would adversely impact it.”
This means that giving her relief from arrest at that time would harm the investigation and the justice system.
The UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) has taken serious steps against her. They have filed a criminal case and said she attempted to take part in the civil services exam by using a fake identity.
The Delhi Police also registered an FIR (First Information Report) against Puja Khedkar under various sections of the law.
Earlier, she was given interim protection from arrest by the High Court when it issued a notice on her bail plea on August 12, 2024. This protection was extended multiple times.
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