SC tells ex-IAS probationer Puja Khedkar to appear before Delhi police on May 2

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday directed former IAS probationer Puja Khedkar, accused of cheating and wrongly availing of OBC and disability quota benefits in the civil services examination, to appear before Delhi Police on May 2.

A bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and Satish Chandra Sharma also said no coercive steps will be taken against Khedkar till May 21, the next date of hearing.

The court recorded that no concrete investigation into the matter had taken place and directed Delhi Police to conclude the probe expeditiously.

During the hearing, Additional Solicitor General S V Raju, appearing for Delhi Police, submitted that Khedkar's custodial interrogation was required.

The apex court, however, granted her interim protection.

Khedkar is accused of misrepresenting information in her application for the 2022 UPSC civil services examination for availing reservation benefits. She has refuted all the allegations against her.

On December 23, 2024, the Delhi High Court had dismissed a plea by Khedkar to clear the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) exams.

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.

After going through facts of the matter and hearing the counsel, the bench said, "The present incident is a classic example of fraud committed not only with a constitutional body but the society at large and necessary interrogation is warranted to reveal all the aspects and attributes related to the said fraud committed against the nation."

The court noted the material available on record, prima facie, reveals that the petitioner is not a fit candidate to avail the benefits meant for the disadvantageous groups and she has been availing the same by forging documents prepared in cahoots with unknown individuals in the government or outside.

"Apart from owning luxury cars and various properties, the family of the petitioner i.e., the father and mother have held high positions in the executive. Therefore, there is a high possibility that the family members have with the unknown powerful persons got the requisite certificates produced by the petitioner," the bench said.

The court said the material placed on record by the State reveals that the petitioner’s family owns 23 pieces of immovable property as well as 12 vehicles registered in their name. The petitioner herself has three luxury cars (BMW, Mercedes and Mahindra Thar) which is not possible with a meager family income of Rs 6,00,000 per annum, the bench said.

On July 31, 2024, the UPSC cancelled the provisional candidature of the applicant from CSE-2022 and permanently debarred her from any future UPSC examinations.

Apprehending her arrest in the FIR, she approached the District and Sessions Judge, Patiala House seeking anticipatory bail, which was dismissed on August 8, 2024.