Supreme Court Halts Arrest Of Ex-IAS Trainee Puja Khedkar In UPSC Fraud Case

The Supreme Court of India has stopped the arrest of Puja Khedkar, a former IAS probationary officer accused of fraudulent practices during the 2022 UPSC Civil Services Examination. The Court issued a notice to the Delhi Police and the UPSC in response to her plea for anticipatory bail, providing her protection from arrest until the next hearing.

Allegations of Falsifying Application

Khedkar has been accused of misrepresenting details in her UPSC application to avail of reservation benefits. As a result, UPSC cancelled her candidature and barred her from participating in any future selection processes. The allegations highlight a case of potential misuse of the recruitment system, raising concerns about fairness and transparency.

Court Schedules Further Hearing

A bench of Justices B.V. Nagarathna and Satish Chandra Sharma directed that no coercive action be taken against Khedkar until February 14, when the matter will be heard again. This temporary relief comes as the legal process unfolds.

Delhi High Court's Rejection of Bail

Prior to this, Khedkar's plea for anticipatory bail was rejected by the Delhi High Court. The Court emphasized the strength of the prima facie case and the necessity of further investigation to uncover a potential larger conspiracy involving the manipulation of the recruitment system.

Police's Argument for Custodial Interrogation

The Delhi Police, which has filed an FIR based on UPSC's complaint, argues that custodial interrogation may be essential to fully understand the scale of the alleged fraud. They also pointed to Khedkar's frequent changes to her name, suggesting an attempt to secure additional exam attempts fraudulently.

Khedkar's Response and Future Proceedings

Khedkar maintains her innocence and has expressed willingness to cooperate with the investigation. She has argued that a custodial interrogation is unnecessary and intends to contest the charges in court. As the case progresses, the broader issue of manipulation within India's prestigious civil services recruitment process continues to generate public attention.