The Supreme Court has stayed the arrest of former IAS trainee Puja Khedkar, accused of cheating in the 2022 UPSC civil services examination. On Wednesday, the court issued notices to the Delhi Police and the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) regarding Khedkar’s plea for anticipatory bail.
A bench comprising Justices B.V. Nagarathna and Satish Chandra Sharma granted interim protection to Khedkar until the next hearing scheduled for February 14, directing that no coercive action be taken against her.
The UPSC had previously canceled Khedkar’s candidature, barring her from all future examinations. The allegations include falsifying information to exploit reservation benefits and manipulate the recruitment process.
Delhi High Court’s Strong Observations
Earlier, the Delhi High Court dismissed Khedkar’s anticipatory bail plea, citing a “strong prima facie case” and emphasizing the need to investigate the “larger conspiracy” behind the alleged fraud.
“This is a classic case of fraud, not just against a constitutional body but also against society and the nation,” the High Court observed.
While Khedkar expressed her willingness to cooperate with the investigation, the Delhi Police argued that custodial interrogation might be necessary to uncover further details of the conspiracy. The police also alleged that Khedkar frequently changed her name to exploit additional attempts at the UPSC exams.
Case Background
The case against Khedkar stems from a complaint filed by the UPSC, which led to an FIR being registered by the Delhi Police. The investigation aims to probe deeper into what officials suspect is a larger scheme to manipulate the civil services recruitment process.
The Supreme Court’s decision provides temporary relief for Khedkar while the case unfolds. Further developments are expected as the investigation continues.
