SC extends protection from arrest to former IAS probationer Khedkar in cheating case

The Supreme Court on Tuesday extended the protection from arrest granted to former IAS probationer Puja Khedkar till April 21. She was accused of cheating and wrongly availing OBC and disability quota benefits in the civil services examination.

A Bench led by Justice BV Nagarathna posted the matter for hearing on April 21 after Khedkar’s counsel said her rejoinder to the reply filed by the Delhi government was not on record.

Facing imminent arrest for alleged cheating and wrongly availing of OBC and disability quota benefits in the civil services examination, Khedkar had on January 15 got a major relief from the Supreme Court, which protected her from arrest.

Khedkar has challenged the Delhi High Court’s December 23 judgment rejecting her anticipatory bail plea and vacating the interim protection granted to her in the case.

She 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”.

“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,” the high court had said, dismissing her petition.

Vacating the interim protection given to her on August 12, 2024, the high court had 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.”

However, Khedkar contended that she did not have any criminal antecedents and that she was an unmarried woman with benchmark disability. The accused submitted that she joined the All India Service, was appointed after physical verification and was entitled to protection under the All India Services Act and Rules, besides the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, until proved otherwise.