The Supreme Court on Tuesday extended its interim order protecting former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) trainee officer Puja Khedkar from arrest. Khedkar is accused of forging documents to claim eligibility for the 2022 Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) examination.
A bench comprising Justices BV Nagarathna and Satish Chandra Sharma directed the Delhi Police to expedite the investigation, questioning why it was yet to be completed despite Khedkar's affidavit stating her willingness to cooperate.
"You must track up this investigation steadfastly," Justice Nagarathna told Additional Solicitor General (ASG) SV Raju, who appeared for the Delhi Police.
The court scheduled the hearing of Khedkar’s anticipatory bail plea for April 15.
During the proceedings, ASG Raju argued that custodial interrogation was necessary to probe a larger scam involving fraudulent documents submitted by UPSC candidates. He stated that the investigation aimed to determine whether Khedkar’s case was an isolated incident or part of a broader conspiracy.
"We have found that this is a scam which may involve persons issuing fake certificates. We need to investigate its full extent," Raju submitted before the bench.
However, the court noted that while uncovering the source of the alleged forged certificates was crucial, it did not necessarily require Khedkar to be in custody.
Khedkar’s counsel opposed the forgery accusations, arguing that she was diagnosed with a low-vision disability in 2018 and had attempted the UPSC exam thrice since then. The counsel further contended that her attempt as a disabled candidate had not been exhausted.
"You must justify your attempts," the bench responded.
Khedkar has challenged a Delhi High Court order rejecting her anticipatory bail plea. In January, the Supreme Court granted her interim protection from arrest, directing her to cooperate with the investigation.
She is accused of fraudulently availing reservations meant for Other Backward Classes (OBC) and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities to qualify for the UPSC exam.
The Delhi High Court, while dismissing her plea earlier, made scathing remarks, calling it a "classic example of fraud, not only against a constitutional body but also against society and the nation." The court stressed the necessity of interrogation to uncover the conspiracy, pointing to her parents’ high-ranking positions as a potential factor in the alleged collusion.
Khedkar faces criminal charges filed by the Delhi Police for cheating and unlawfully claiming reservation benefits in the civil services examination
Website designed, developed and maintained by webexy