Ex-IAS trainee Puja Khedkar moves Supreme Court for anticipatory bail

Former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) trainee officer Puja Khedkar has moved the Supreme Court challenging the Delhi High court order rejecting her anticipatory bail plea. .Khedkar is accused of fraudulently availing reservation meant for Other Backward Classes (OBC) and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities in order to clear the Union Public Service Commission exam (UPSC exam).The former IAS trainee has told the Supreme Court that FIR against her discloses offences which are based on documents and applications forms already in possession of the prosecution.Hence, no further custodial interrogation is required. .The petitioner has contended that she does not have any criminal antecedents and that she is an unmarried woman with benchmark disability.She has further stated that she was appointed after physical verification into the All India Services and this entitles her to protection under the All India Services Act and Rules.She is also entitled to further protection under Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act until proved otherwise, it has been contended..After the allegations against Khedkar came to light, the UPSC cancelled her selection and permanently debarred her from all future exams and selections after finding her “guilty of violating CSE-2022 Rules."The Delhi Police later lodged a case against Khedkar on a complaint filed by the UPSC.She then approached the High Court for anticipatory bail.On August 12 last year, the High Court had granted her interim protection from arrest.The High Court later vacated the same on December 23, 2024.Justice Chandra Dhari Singh of High Court said that a prima facie case was made out about Khedkar's acts to dupe UPSC by availing benefits of quotas meant for Other Backward Classes (OBC) and Persons with Disabilities (PwD) though she was not eligible for the same.The material revealed that she was not a fit candidate for such benefits and that she had forged documents in connivance with unknown persons, the single-judge said.This prompted her to approach the apex court.