The Delhi High Court on Thursday reserved its verdict on the anticipatory bail plea of Puja Khedkar, a former IAS probationer accused of fraudulently availing OBC and disability quota benefits in the 2022 civil services examination.

Justice Chandra Dhari Singh, while extending her interim protection from arrest, stated, "Heard both sides. Judgement reserved."

Khedkar, accused of misrepresenting information in her UPSC application, has denied the allegations. Her counsel argued she is cooperating with the investigation and that custody is unnecessary as the case relies on documentary evidence. However, Delhi Police and the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) opposed the bail, claiming custodial interrogation is critical to probe electronic evidence and uncover potential co-conspirators.

Police cited discrepancies in her disability certificate and name changes in different attempts as grounds for investigation, while UPSC emphasized the need to unearth the "magnitude of the fraud." Khedkar’s counsel alleged the case is retaliatory, following her sexual harassment complaint against an officer.

The FIR against Khedkar includes charges under the IPC, IT Act, and Disabilities Act, with investigators suggesting a wider conspiracy impacting public trust in the civil services exam.