New Delhi: The Supreme Court has extended its interim order protecting former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) trainee Puja Khedkar from arrest, as she faces allegations of document forgery to qualify for the 2022 Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) exam. A bench led by Justice BV Nagarathna granted additional time for the Delhi police to respond to Khedkar’s challenge against the Delhi High Court’s decision to deny her anticipatory bail. The court instructed Khedkar to assist in the investigation.
The case is scheduled for a follow-up hearing in three weeks, on March 18, during which the interim protection will remain in effect, provided she cooperates with the investigation. Senior advocate Siddharth Luthra, representing Khedkar, stated that she has not yet been summoned for questioning by the police and is willing to cooperate.
Previously, the Supreme Court had ordered that no coercive actions be taken against Khedkar until the next hearing. She is accused of fraudulently obtaining reservations intended for Other Backward Classes (OBC) and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities to succeed in the UPSC exam. The Delhi High Court, while rejecting her anticipatory bail plea, criticized her actions as a “classic example of fraud” against both a constitutional body and society at large, emphasizing the need for interrogation to uncover any conspiracy. The court also noted that Khedkar’s parents hold high-ranking positions, raising concerns about potential collusion with powerful individuals. Khedkar faces criminal charges from the Delhi Police for cheating and unlawfully claiming benefits from the OBC and disability quotas in the civil services examination.