Delhi HC grants protection from arrest to ex-IAS trainee Khedkar
The Delhi High Court has granted interim protection from arrest to former Indian Administrative Services (IAS) trainee Puja Khedkar, who is accused of exam fraud. The court has directed the police not to arrest Khedkar until August 21. The order was passed by Justice Subramonium Prasad, who said that Khedkar's "immediate custody" did not seem necessary "at the moment."
Why does this story matter?
Khedkar, a 2022 batch officer, first made headlines when she was accused of misusing her power by using a red siren, VIP number plates, and a "Government of Maharashtra" sticker on her private Audi car while on probation. But after allegations of power misuse surfaced, she was transferred from Pune to Washim as a supernumerary assistant collector. She was eventually recalled to the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration for "necessary action," and later her candidature was cancelled.
Court seeks response from Delhi Police, UPSC
The court also issued a notice to the Delhi Police and the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), seeking their response on why Khedkar's custody is required. The UPSC had filed an FIR against Khedkar, alleging that she used a fake identity to secure more attempts in the civil services examination. Khedkar had approached the high court after a lower court rejected her anticipatory bail plea. The lower court had termed the allegations against her serious and necessitating a thorough probe.
UPSC alleges Khedkar's manipulative nature
The UPSC has accused Khedkar of being the "mastermind" behind the alleged irregularities, asserting that such a fraud could not have been possible without assistance. Naresh Kaushik, a senior advocate representing the UPSC, contended that Khedkar's entry into the IAS indicated her manipulative nature. He argued that this justified her custodial interrogation.
'No need for immediate custody,' says Justice Prasad
However, Justice Prasad disagreed with the lower court's assessment, stating that he did not see a need for Khedkar's immediate custody. He observed that while the lower court was perplexed by the nature of the offense, it failed to provide reasons for granting or denying bail. In July, the UPSC had canceled Khedkar's candidature and permanently debarred her from all future examinations and selections. However, the HC has granted her the liberty to challenge this cancellation in an appropriate forum.
