Supreme Court Grants Anticipatory Bail to Ex-IAS Probationer Puja Khedkar in Quota Misuse Case
The Supreme Court on Wednesday granted anticipatory bail to former IAS probationer Puja Khedkar, who faces allegations of cheating and misusing OBC and disability quota benefits during the 2022 UPSC civil services examination.
A bench comprising Justices B.V. Nagarathna and Satish Chandra Sharma directed Khedkar to cooperate with the ongoing investigation fully.
In a strong oral observation, the bench remarked, “What serious crime has she committed? She is neither a drug trafficker nor a terrorist. She hasn’t committed murder or violated NDPS laws. You should have a system or software in place to verify such claims. Let the investigation continue. She has already lost everything—she is unlikely to get a job anywhere.”
The court held that, given the circumstances, the Delhi High Court should have granted anticipatory bail. “Considering the overall facts of the case, this is an appropriate matter where bail ought to have been granted,” the bench stated.
However, counsel for the Delhi Police strongly opposed the bail plea, arguing that Khedkar had been uncooperative during the investigation and that the charges against her were serious.
Khedkar is accused of providing false information in her civil services exam application to illegitimately claim reservation benefits under the OBC and disability categories. She has denied all accusations.
Following the controversy, the UPSC initiated disciplinary action against her, including the registration of a criminal case. The Delhi Police also lodged an FIR, booking her under various charges related to fraud and misrepresentation.
