Former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) trainee officer, Puja Khedkar, has approached the Supreme Court challenging the Delhi High Court's decision to reject her anticipatory bail plea.

Khedkar is accused of fraudulently using reservations designated for Other Backward Classes (OBC) and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwD) to secure a position in the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) exam.

In her petition to the Supreme Court, Khedkar argues that the FIR against her is based on documents and application forms already in the prosecution’s possession, indicating that no further custodial interrogation is necessary.

The petitioner emphasizes that she has no criminal background and is an unmarried woman with benchmark disability. She further asserts that her appointment to the All India Services followed physical verification, entitling her to protection under the All India Services Act and Rules. Additionally, she claims entitlement to protection under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act unless proven otherwise.

Following the allegations, the UPSC canceled Khedkar’s selection and permanently banned her from participating in future exams after determining that she had violated the CSE-2022 Rules. Subsequently, the Delhi Police filed a case against her following a complaint by the UPSC.

Khedkar then sought anticipatory bail in the High Court. On August 12 of the previous year, the High Court granted her interim protection from arrest, but the same was vacated on December 23, 2024. Justice Chandra Dhari Singh of the High Court stated that there was a prima facie case against Khedkar for attempting to deceive the UPSC by misusing quotas for OBC and PwD categories, despite her ineligibility. The court also noted that Khedkar appeared to have forged documents in collusion with unknown individuals, prompting her to seek relief from the Supreme Court.