High Court extends protection from arrest to Puja Khedkar 

The Delhi High Court on Thursday extended interim protection from arrest to former IAS trainee officer, Puja Khedkar, in connection with allegedly misusing her powers to crack the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). The protection from arrest was extended until September 5.

The UPSC last month cancelled Puja Khedkar's candidature and debarred her from future exams. Puja Khedkar has told the Delhi High Court that the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has no power to disqualify her.

Earlier, Justice Subramonium Prasad of the Delhi High Court had deferred the hearing on Pooja Khedkar’s anticipatory bail plea to August 29, 2024. The deferral was because the Delhi Police had not filed its response to the case. Senior advocate Siddharth Luthra, representing Khedkar, also requested additional time to review the UPSC’s response, which opposes the anticipatory bail plea.

On last date of hearing, the Delhi High Court had issued notices to the Delhi Police and UPSC regarding the anticipatory bail plea of Khedkar.

The Delhi High Court earlier observed that the trial court’s order denying bail for Puja Khedkar lacks substantial discussion, with only a brief mention of the public prosecutor’s claim about the involvement of others. The High Court had instructed the police not to arrest Khedkar as the proceedings were pending.

Khedkar is accused of falsifying and misrepresenting facts in her application to the UPSC. UPSC had argued that Puja Khedkar is a “mastermind” and that her actions would not have been possible without the assistance of others. This argument supports their position that custodial interrogation is necessary.

Puja Khedkar’s plea in the Delhi High Court follows the dismissal of her plea by Delhi’s Patiala House Court, which found the allegations against her–related to falsifying identity for extra attempts in the civil services examination–to be serious and in need of thorough investigation.