The Delhi High Court, presided by Justice Chandra Dhari Singh, has reserved its order regarding the anticipatory bail plea of Puja Khedkar, a dismissed IAS probationer facing allegations of fraudulently obtaining reservation benefits under OBC and disability quotas in the 2022 civil services examination. The court has decided to continue interim protection from arrest for Khedkar until the judgment is delivered.
During the hearing, both the Delhi police and the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), which opposed Khedkar’s plea, argued the need for her custody to further investigate the case. The police counsel emphasized that custodial interrogation was essential to uncover potential involvement of others in what is described as a “deep-rooted conspiracy” affecting the integrity of the civil services examination system.
Khedkar, on her part, has denied all accusations, claiming that the case against her stemmed from a sexual harassment complaint she had previously filed against an officer. Her legal team argued that since all the evidential material is documentary, physical custody is unnecessary, and she is willing to cooperate fully with the investigation.
The controversy includes accusations of Khedkar using different names for multiple exam attempts and discrepancies in her disability certificate. The UPSC’s senior counsel also highlighted the necessity of custodial interrogation to reveal the full extent of the alleged fraud, suggesting that it could not have been perpetrated without accomplices.
Since August 12, Khedkar has benefitted from interim protection from arrest, which has been periodically extended by the court. The case has attracted attention due to its implications on public trust in the fairness of the civil services examination process.
