SC Grants Bail To Ex-IAS Trainee Puja Khedkar: 'She's Lost Everything... Will Not Get Job Anywhere'

The Supreme Court on Wednesday granted anticipatory bail to former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) trainee officer Puja Khedkar, who stands accused of document forgery and alleged misuse of the OBC non-creamy layer quota to qualify for the 2022 Civil Services entrance examination.

Offering her temporary relief, the Supreme Court remarked that Khedkar is "not a drug lord or a terrorist," despite strong opposition from the Delhi Police, who claimed she was not cooperating with the ongoing investigation.

"She is not a NDPS offender. You should have a system or a software. You complete the investigation. She has lost everything and will not get a job anywhere," the court observed, further stating that the Delhi High Court "ought to have granted bail to the petitioner".

"Bearing in mind the facts and circumstances of the case, this is a fit case where the Delhi High Court ought to have granted bail to the petitioner," the bench asserted.

A criminal case was registered against Khedkar over allegations that she falsified and misrepresented her family's income and other essential details to qualify for the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) examination.

Following an inquiry, the UPSC annulled her selection upon determining she had submitted forged documents. In addition to cancelling her selection, the commission permanently barred Khedkar from ever sitting the exam again. The Central government relieved her of her duties a month later.

Khedkar first came under public scrutiny in June last year when Pune Collector Suhas Diwase wrote to Maharashtra Chief Secretary Sujata Saunik, flagging Khedkar's requests for a government car, personal staff and a dedicated office during her training. The controversy led to her transfer to Washim.

Soon thereafter, Khedkar's selection came under investigation, with allegations surfacing that she had used fraudulent documentation to claim eligibility under both the OBC and persons with disabilities quotas.

It was later revealed that her father, a former Maharashtra government official, owned assets valued at ₹40 crore, disqualifying her from claiming OBC non-creamy layer status.