In a significant ruling on Monday, the Delhi High Court declined to grant anticipatory bail to Puja Khedkar, a former IAS probationer embroiled in allegations of cheating and misuse of quota benefits in the UPSC Civil Services Examination. Justice Chandra Dhari Singh dismissed the plea and vacated the interim protection from arrest previously afforded to Khedkar.
The court found a strong prima facie case against Khedkar, indicating the need for further investigation to unravel the full extent of the alleged conspiracy. “It was a classic case of fraud committed on a constitutional body as well as society,” Justice Singh remarked, underscoring the severity of the allegations.
Khedkar is accused of falsifying information in her 2022 UPSC exam application to illicitly secure reservation benefits under the OBC and disability quotas. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), which acts as the complainant in the case, alongside counsel for the Delhi Police, strongly opposed Khedkar’s plea for pre-arrest bail. The UPSC was represented by senior advocate Naresh Kaushik and lawyer Vardhman Kaushik.
Despite the charges, Khedkar has consistently denied all allegations against her. The controversy led the UPSC to take a series of actions against her in July, including the initiation of a criminal case for allegedly exploiting the examination system by misrepresenting her identity.
