After High Court setback, Puja Khedkar moves Supreme Court for pre-arrest bail

Ex-IAS trainee Puja Khedkar, accused of cheating UPSC, has approached the Supreme Court, claiming that the case against her requires no custodial interrogation.
(By Staff Reporter) Former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) trainee officer, Puja Khedkar, accused of fraudulently availing reservation benefits under the OBC and disability quotas in the civil services examination, has moved the Supreme Court challenging the Delhi High court order rejecting her pre-arrest bail plea.
Khedkar, in her plea before the apex court, called the High Court order 'erroneous', claiming that the case against her pertains to offences based on documents and application forms that are already in the possession of the prosecution.
Therefore, no further custodial interrogation is not required, the plea stated. An apex court bench, comprising Justices BV Nagarathna and Satish Chandra Sharma, is set to hear her plea on Wednesday, January 15.The former IAS trainee is challenging a Delhi High Court order dated December 23, 2024, which denied her anticipatory bail plea. The High Court had observed that a strong prima facie case existed against her, necessitating a thorough investigation to expose a "larger conspiracy" aimed at manipulating the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) examination system. It noted that granting pre-arrest bail would impede the investigation.
"The anticipatory bail plea is dismissed. Interim protection from arrest is vacated," the high court had ruled. It further described the case as a grave instance of fraud perpetrated against a constitutional body and society, underscoring the importance of preserving the integrity of the UPSC examination.
The UPSC revoked Khedkar's selection as a junior government officer and even banned her from appearing for the civil services examination in future. Two months later, the Union government sacked her. Khedkar had previously been granted interim protection from arrest after the High Court issued a notice on her anticipatory bail plea on August 12, 2024. This protection was extended periodically but ultimately vacated with the High Court's last ruling. The allegations against Khedkar include falsifying information in her 2022 UPSC civil services examination application to unlawfully claim reservation benefits. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) initiated criminal proceedings against her, accusing her of faking her identity to exploit quota advantages. The Delhi Police also lodged an FIR against her for multiple offences.