‘Fraud with nation’: Delhi HC denies anticipatory bail to ex-IAS trainee Puja

Former IAS probationer Puja Khedkar faces imminent arrest as the Delhi High Court on Monday rejected her anticipatory bail and vacated the interim protection granted in a criminal case lodged against her for alleged cheating and wrongly availing of OBC and disability quota benefits in the civil services examination.

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“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 aspects and attributes related to the said fraud committed against the nation,” Justice CD Singh said.

Vacating the interim protection given to her, Justice Singh said, “This court deems it appropriate to dismiss the present application filed for grant of anticipatory bail as this court is prima facie satisfied that a strong case is made out against the petitioner and the said conduct is part of a larger conspiracy which can only be revealed if the investigative agency is given the due opportunity to apprehend the petitioner and investigate the case without there being any chance to hamper the witnesses and the evidence.”

The order meant that the probe agency was free to arrest and interrogate her to get to the bottom of the case.

Citing the Supreme Court verdict in CBI vs Anil Sharma (1997), Justice Singh said “success in an interrogation would be reduced if a person is enlarged on pre-arrest bail”. He said, “This court is privy to the fact that the interrogation of a person accused in an offence of such a nature is required in order to unearth the fraud committed with the help of a larger number of people… this court is of the opinion that the steps taken by the petitioner were part of a larger conspiracy to manipulate the system and the investigation in this regard would be impacted if she is granted anticipatory bail.”

Khedkar is accused of cheating and wrongly availing OBC and disability quota benefits to make it to the IAS. She joined the Pune Collectorate in June this year as a probationer and on July 31, the UPSC cancelled her candidature and debarred her permanently from all future examinations after she was found guilty of “acting in contravention of the Civil Services Examination-2022 Rules”.

“It is a known fact that lakhs of students/aspirants prepare for the said exam and put in a number of years in order to succeed. The fraudulent tactics adopted by the petitioner not only demoralises the well deserving candidates, but also raises questions about the authenticity of the exam conducting agency and is a threat to the backbone of the country,” the high court noted.