Today, the Delhi High Court extended the interim protection from arrest for former IAS probationer Puja Khedkar until October 4.

She is facing a criminal case for alleged cheating and improperly benefiting from OBC and disability quotas in the civil services examination.

The bench of Justice Chandra Dhari Singh postponed the hearing on her anticipatory bail plea after her lawyer requested additional time.

During the proceedings, counsel for the Delhi Police sought a brief adjournment, indicating that a "larger conspiracy" involving forgery and document fabrication has emerged. Khedkar is accused of misrepresenting information in her application for the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2022 to secure reservation benefits.

Khedkar has denied all allegations against her.

Her lawyer requested more time to respond to allegations from the UPSC claiming that Khedkar committed perjury by making false statements related to her anticipatory bail plea. The lawyer argued that her "debarment" followed a sexual harassment complaint she lodged against an officer and raised concerns about media coverage surrounding the case. She insisted that no press conferences should be held by any party involved.

In contrast, the Delhi Police's counsel stated that the agency operates without media influence, while senior counsel for the UPSC remarked that Khedkar "became a celebrity because of her own actions."

Both the UPSC and the Delhi Police have sought the dismissal of Khedkar's pre-arrest bail plea.

The high court initially granted her interim protection from arrest on August 12 while issuing a notice on her anticipatory bail application, a measure that has been repeatedly extended.

The Delhi Police has contended that granting relief to Khedkar would impede their investigation into a "deep-rooted conspiracy," emphasizing that the case holds broader implications for public trust and the integrity of the civil services examination.

The UPSC has previously stated that Khedkar defrauded both the Commission and the public, asserting that her custodial interrogation is essential to uncover the "magnitude of the fraud," which likely involved assistance from other individuals.

In July, the UPSC took several actions against Khedkar, including filing a criminal case for misrepresenting her identity to gain attempts in the civil services exam. The Delhi Police subsequently registered an FIR under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code, Information Technology Act, and the Right of Persons with Disabilities Act