Supreme Court grants anticipatory bail to ex-IAS probationer Puja Khedkar

Puja Khedkar

The Supreme Court on Wednesday granted anticipatory bail to former IAS probationer Puja Khedkar, who has been accused of cheating and wrongly availing OBC quota benefits in the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) examination.

Directing Khedkar to cooperate in the probe, the SC bench comprising Justices BV Nagarathna and SC Sharma said she is not a terrorist or a drug lord.

"What is the grave crime she has committed? She is not a drug lord or a terrorist. She has not committed 302 (murder). She is not an NDPS offender. You should have a system or a software. You complete the investigation. She has lost everything and will not get a job anywhere," the bench observed.

The top court even said that this is a fit case where the Delhi HC ought to have granted bail to the petitioner. "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 bench noted.

Vehemently opposing anticipatory bail to Puja Khedkar, the counsel for the Delhi Police earlier said she was not cooperating in the probe and allegations against her were serious.

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.

The UPSC cancelled Khedkar's candidature on July 31, 2024. Weeks later, the central government discharged her from the IAS under Rule 12 of IAS (Probation) Rules, 1954, with immediate effect.

The UPSC initiated a series of actions against Puja Khedkar, including lodging of a criminal case, for availing attempts in the civil services exam by faking her identity. Delhi Police also filed an FIR against her for various offences.