Delhi High Court extends interim protection from arrest to Puja Khedkar

The Delhi High Court on Thursday (September 26) extended till October 4 the interim protection from arrest granted to former IAS probationer Puja Khedkar in a criminal case on charges of cheating and wrongly availing OBC and disability quota benefits in the civil services examination.

Justice Chandra Dhari Singh deferred hearing on her plea seeking anticipatory bail after a request was made by her lawyer.

Delhi police counsel urged the court to allow a short adjournment, saying a "larger conspiracy has come to light", which involves forgery and creation of documents.

Charges against Khedkar

"At request of counsel for the petitioner, list on October 4. Interim order to continue," Justice Singh said.

Khedkar is accused of misrepresenting information in her application for the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2022 to get reservation benefits. She has denied all allegations.

Khedkar's lawyer sought more time from the court to file a response to the UPSC allegation that she committed perjury by making a false statement in relation to her anticipatory bail plea.

Delhi police, UPSC stand

She said her “debarment” was an aftermath of a sexual harassment complaint by her against an officer, and also objected to the media gaze on the case.

There should be no press conferences by any party, the lawyer demanded.

While the Delhi police lawyer said the investigating agency was “never under media pressure”, UPSC's senior counsel said Khedkar “became a celebrity because of her own doing”.

Police allege conspiracy

Both the UPSC and Delhi police sought dismissal of her plea for pre-arrest bail.

The high court had granted interim protection from arrest to Khedkar while issuing notice on her anticipatory bail plea on August 12.

The Delhi police have claimed that any relief to Khedkar would hinder its probe into the "deep-rooted conspiracy".

Custodial interrogation

The UPSC earlier said that Khedkar’s custodial interrogation was necessary to unearth the “magnitude of the fraud” that could not have been done without the help of other individuals.

The UPSC had initiated a series of actions against Khedkar in July, including lodging a criminal case against her for availing attempts in the civil services exam by faking her identity.