New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday (January 15) granted former probationary Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Puja Khedkar interim protection from arrest till February 14 in cheating and wrongly availing OBC and disability quota benefits in the civil services examination.
A bench comprising Justice BV Nagarathna and Justice Satish Chandra Sharma granted Khedkar interim protection from arrest while hearing a plea filed by Khedkar seeking grant of anticipatory bail.
The apex court, while hearing Khedkar’s plea seeking anticipatory bail, issued notice to the Delhi government and the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).
The bench posted the matter for further hearing on February 14.
Khedkar is accused of cheating, wrongly availing quota benefits
Khedkar, who is accused of cheating, wrongly availing Other Backward Classes (OBC) and disability quota benefits in the civil services examination, moved the apex court challenging an order of the Delhi High Court refusing to grant her anticipatory bail in a case filed by the Delhi Police on a complaint made by the UPSC.
High Court refused to grant Khedkar anticipatory bail
The High Court had on December 23 last year rejected Khedkar’s plea seeking anticipatory bail in the case, saying that 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. It had further said that the UPSC examination was the most prestigious test and the present 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 her anticipatory bail.
High Court earlier granted Khedkar interim protection from arrest
The High Court had earlier granted Khedkar an interim protection from arrest and the interim protection was extended from time to time. It was vacated by the High Court while dismissing her plea.
Trial court earlier refused to grant Khedkar anticipatory bail
Khedkar moved the High Court against a trial court order, which refused to grant her anticipatory bail. The trial court, while rejecting Khedkar’s anticipatory bail plea, also directed the Delhi Police to widen its probe into the case and to also investigate if Khedkar 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.
