The Supreme Court on Wednesday granted anticipatory bail to former IAS probationer Puja Khedkar, who has been accused of cheating and availing reservation benefits under the OBC and disability quotas in the 2022 UPSC Civil Services Examination through misrepresentation.
A bench comprising Justices B.V. Nagarathna and Satish Chandra Sharma directed Khedkar to fully cooperate with the ongoing investigation. While orally observing the nature of the case, the court questioned the severity of the allegations made against her.
“What is the grave crime she has committed?” Justice Nagarathna remarked. “She is not a drug lord or a terrorist. She has not committed 302 (murder). She is not an NDPS offender. You should have a system or a software. You complete the investigation. She has lost everything and will not get a job anywhere.”
The bench further noted that considering the facts and circumstances, “this is a fit case where the Delhi High Court ought to have granted bail to the petitioner.”
However, the Delhi Police opposed the relief, asserting that Khedkar had not been cooperating with the investigation and that the allegations against her were serious in nature.
Khedkar has been accused of misrepresenting her social and physical identity to benefit from reservation quotas meant for OBC and disabled candidates in the UPSC examination. According to authorities, she allegedly falsified information to avail additional examination attempts and reservation benefits.
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) had initiated disciplinary action against her, including the lodging of a criminal case. An FIR was also registered by the Delhi Police citing multiple offences.
Khedkar has denied all allegations and claims she has not committed any fraud.
