New Delhi: Former probationary Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Puja Khedkar has moved the Supreme Court against a Delhi High Court order refusing to grant her anticipatory bail in a case lodged by the Delhi Police on a complaint lodged by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).
Khedkar is accused of cheating, wrongly availing Other Backward Classes (OBC) and disability quota benefits in the civil services exam.
Apex Court is scheduled to hear matter tomorrow
A bench comprising Justice BV Nagarathna and Justice Satish Chandra Sharma is scheduled to hear Khedkar’s plea tomorrow.
High Court refused to grant Khedkar anticipatory bail
The High Court on December 23 last year dismissed Khedkar’s plea seeking anticipatory bail, saying a strong prima facie case was made out against her and an investigation was required to unearth the “larger conspiracy” to manipulate the system and grant of anticipatory bail would adversely impact it. The High Court further said that the UPSC examination was the most prestigious test and the instant case was a classic instance of fraud committed on a constitutional body as well as the society.
“Anticipatory bail plea is dismissed. Interim protection from arrest is vacated,” the High Court had said while refusing to grant Khekar anticipatory bail.
High Court earlier granted Khedkar interim protection from arrest
The High Court had granted Khedkar an interim protection from arrest and it was extended from time to time and the interim protection was vacated by the High Court while dismissing her plea.
Khedkar moved the High Court against a trial court order refusing to grant her anticipatory bail. The trial court, while rejecting her anticipatory bail plea, also directed the Delhi Police to widen its probe into the matter and to also investigate if she got help from anyone from inside the UPSC and also probe if the benefits under OBC and PwD quotas without entitlement have been availed by other persons also.
