The Supreme Court on Wednesday protected former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) trainee officer Pooja Khedkar from arrest till February 14, accused of cheating in the Civil Services Examination and unfairly availing the benefits of reservation under OBC (Other Backward Class) and Disabled category. Gave relief.
Justice B. A bench of Justices V Nagarathna and Satish Chandra Sharma issued notice to the Delhi government and the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on Khedkar’s plea seeking anticipatory bail.
“Notice is issued and reply is filed by February 14, 2025,” the bench directed. No punitive action should be taken against the petitioner till the next hearing.
During the hearing, senior advocate Siddharth Luthra, appearing for Khedkar, argued that the High Court had made strong observations against him while rejecting his anticipatory bail plea.
The top court said nothing has happened to Khedkar so far and “nobody has even touched him”.
Luthra said that if the case goes to trial, the result will be a conviction because the high court has made strong findings in the case.
When the top court asked about Khedkar’s current situation, Luthra said he had lost his job and was pursuing legal remedies.
The hearing of the case has been fixed on February 14.
Khedkar is accused of giving false information in his application for UPSC Civil Services Examination, 2022 to avail the benefit of reservation. He has denied all the allegations against him.
Rejecting his anticipatory bail plea, the High Court found a prima facie case against Khedkar and said an investigation was needed to unearth the “larger conspiracy” to manipulate the system and granting the relief would adversely affect the system. .
The High Court said, “The anticipatory bail petition is dismissed.” The interim relief from arrest is terminated.”
Khedkar was granted interim relief from arrest when the High Court issued notice on the anticipatory bail plea on August 12, 2024, and it was extended from time to time.
The High Court said that UPSC examination is the most prestigious examination and this case is a unique example of fraud with a constitutional institution and society.
In the High Court, the counsel for Delhi Police and complainant UPSC opposed the anticipatory bail plea.
Khedkar’s lawyer argued that she was ready to join and cooperate with the investigation and since all the material was of documentary nature, her custody was not required. However, Delhi Police insisted on custodial interrogation of Khedkar to find out the involvement of others in the case.
UPSC opposed the petition and said that Khedkar had cheated it and the public. UPSC said his custodial interrogation was necessary to ascertain the “seriousness” of the fraud as such a crime cannot be committed without the help of others.
The commission initiated action against Khedkar in several cases, including filing a criminal case against him for appearing in the civil services examination by disguising his identity. Delhi Police has filed an FIR against Khedkar for various crimes.
