Ex-IAS trainee Puja Khedkar.
Credit: PTI File Photo
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday granted anticipatory bail to former IAS probationer Puja Khedkar, accused of cheating and wrongly availing OBC and disability quota benefits in the civil services examination.
Rejecting opposition to her plea, a bench of justices B V Nagarathna and Satish Chandra Sharma, asked the Delhi police, "What is the grave crime she has committed? She is not a drug lord or a terrorist. She has not committed 302 (Section related to offence of murder under IPC). She is not an NDPS offender."
Senior advocate Sidharth Luthra appearing for Khedkar said that the investigation as against the appellant herein is being conducted since July, 2024 and there has been complete cooperation from her.
The Delhi Police strongly opposed the grant of anticipatory bail to Khedkar contending that she was not cooperating in the probe, and allegations against her were serious.
“You should have a system or software. You complete the investigation. She has lost everything and will not get a job anywhere," the bench orally said.
Additional Solicitor General S V Raju represented the police.
Upon hearing submissions, the bench said, bearing in mind the facts and circumstances of the case, “this is a fit case where the Delhi High Court ought to have granted bail to the petitioner”.
The court ordered Khedkar to cooperate in the investigation and not misuse her liberty and not in any way influence the witnesses or tamper with the material on record.
On January 25, the Supreme Court granted interim protection to sacked IAS trainee Khedkar.
She challenged the high court's December 23, 2024 order which rejected her anticipatory bail plea.
The UPSC has lodged an FIR with the Delhi police crime branch on July 19, 2024 following a number of complaints, alleging she had fraudulently claimed herself as OBC (non creamy layer) candidate and also claimed herself to be persons with benchmark disabilities.
She was recommended as PwBD candidate in 2022 and got assigned Maharashtra cadre.