The Supreme Court on Friday granted an extension of protection from arrest to Puja Khedkar, a former IAS probationer embroiled in allegations of cheating and improperly claiming reservation benefits in the UPSC civil services examination. The protection, now extended until March 17, comes amidst ongoing legal proceedings regarding her involvement in possibly exploiting OBC and disability quotas.
The bench, consisting of Justices B V Nagarathna and Satish Chandra Sharma, has directed Khedkar to actively cooperate with the investigation authorities. During the session, Additional Solicitor General S V Raju was given three weeks to file a response to the court’s inquiries.
Senior Advocate Siddharth Luthra, representing Khedkar, argued that despite her willingness to participate in the investigation, she has not been called by the police. The court has now instructed the police to expedite their interactions with Khedkar to further the investigation.
This legal tangle began when the Delhi High Court dismissed Khedkar’s plea for anticipatory bail, citing a strong prima facie case against her and the need for a thorough investigation to expose a potential “larger conspiracy” to manipulate the recruitment system. The High Court labeled the case as a severe instance of fraud against a constitutional body and society, stressing the need for her custodial interrogation to determine the full extent of the fraud and any possible collaborators.
The UPSC, acting as the complainant in this case, has been particularly vocal about the need for strict legal action, suggesting that Khedkar’s actions represent a significant breach of trust and integrity in the administration of India’s most prestigious examination. They contend that Khedkar’s custodial interrogation is crucial to uncover the “magnitude” of the fraud, which they believe involves other parties.
