The High Court of Delhi on Thursday kept the deserved anticipatory bail application file of Puja Khedkar, the terminated IAS probationer accused of cheating and fraudulent access to the OBC and disabled quota in the 2022 UPSC Civil Services Examination. Justice Chandra Dhari Singh said that the precordial protection from arrest granted to Khedkar earlier would continue till the judgment of the case.
The plea had the Delhi Police and the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) as respondents squarely opposing the petition. As the various players presented their cases, the court was forced to comment that, “Heard both sides of the story. Judgment reserved.”
There are allegations that Khedkar has misrepresented information in the UPSC application in a bid to gain benefits for the reserved seat. But her counsel dismissed the claims saying that she is willing to join the investigative process. He offered further and said that since the case matters entailed documentary evidence, then her custodial interrogation was not necessary.
On the other hand, Delhi Police reiterated that Khedkar’s custody was necessary to expose other accomplices in a deep-rooted conspiracy, according to them. They said that granting her relief could jeopardise the proceedings of the investigation, which includes analysis of electronic devices that belong to her and the inconsistencies on her disability certificate. There were also allegations that Khedkar had applied under different names in the civil services examination twice.
Senior counsel for UPSC, joined the opposition and prayed this court to reject her bail application. They drew attention to the theoretical consequences of the case while pointing to its coverage of the threats that civil servants face and the possible negative impacts on the integrity of the examination experience.
Ever since the court granted her an order for protection from arrest on August 12, the duration of protection has again and again been renewed for Khedkar. This case, which has involved a string of complaints of systemic fraud, is currently enjoying extensive Court as well as legal inquiries and analysis as the Court contemplates its ruling.
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