Supreme Court grants interim protection from arrest to ex-IAS trainee Puja Khedkar

The Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered that no coercive steps be taken against Former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) trainee officer Puja Khedkar for now in relation to the criminal case registered against her..A Bench of Justice BV Nagarathna and Justice Satish Chandra Sharma passed the order on Khedkar's plea 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). "Issue notice to respondent. Serve it to the State (NCT of Delhi). Counsel accepts notice for State. Returnable on 14 February,2025. Till next date of hearing, no coercive steps to be taken against petitioner," the Court ordered..Senior Advocate Siddharth Luthra, representing Khedkar, submitted that she has not been called for questioning by the police. The Court said that nothing has happened to her so far. "No one has touched (her)," it said.However, Luthra submitted that the High Court had made strong observations against her while denying her the relief of pre-arrest bail. The Court then reiterated that no steps had been taken against her by the police."But nothing happened to you. No one called you," it said..Luthra insisted for protection, saying, "If matter goes to trial there will be conviction.. there are strong findings."The Court then asked what she was doing at present. "She has lost her job. Now she is pursuing her legal remedies," Luthra said in response.The Court then proceeded to grant her interim protection from arrest..In her plea, the former IAS trainee has contended that FIR against her discloses offences which are based on documents and applications forms already in possession of the prosecution. Hence, further custodial interrogation is not required, she has said..As per her plea, 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.