The Supreme Court extended interim protection granted from arrest for former IAS trainee Puja Khedkar in the infamous UPSC cheating case. Khedkar is accused of forging documents to clear the civil services examination.
Hearing Khedkar’s plea, the apex court extended the interim protection granted to the former IAS trainee after the UPSC and Delhi government sought time to respond to Khedkar’s plea. Hearing the matter, a bench comprising justices B.V. Nagarathna and Satish Chandra Sharma granted Khedkar protection from arrest till March 17 and directed her to cooperate with the investigation.
Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju said they would require two more weeks to file counter affidavit in the matter. Khedkar’s counsel informed the bench that she is ready to cooperate with the probe, but she has not been summoned yet.
Earlier, the Supreme Court had issued notice to the Delhi government and UPSC over Khedkar’s plea challenging the Delhi High Court’s order rejecting her anticipatory bail petition in the cheating case. Khedkar is accused of forging her caste certificates and other documents for gaining multiple chances to attempt the civil services examinations. Khedkar allegedly forged caste certificates to avail reservation benefits.
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The cheating case came to light after the former IAS trainee, who was part of the Maharashtra cadre, demanded services beyond her grade while being posted for service in Pune. Khedkar has refuted all the allegations against her.
The Delhi High Court, dismissing Khedkar’s anticipatory bail plea, said prima facie, there was a “strong case” against Khedkar and the larger conspiracy behind it has to be unearthed.
The UPSC dismissed Khedkar from service after it found irregularities in her certificates. UPSC found she had availed attempts for the examination beyond permissible limits through fraudulent means. The commission lodged a criminal case against her.
