'Not A Terrorist': Supreme Court Grants Anticipatory Bail To Former Trainee IAS Puja Khedkar In UPSC Cheating Case

The Supreme Court on Wednesday (21 May) released anticipatory bail to former trainee IAS officer Puja Khedkar, accused of wrongly applying for reservation benefits under the OBC and disability quotas in the UPSC recruitment process, India Today reported.

A bench comprising justices B V Nagarathna and Satish Chandra Sharma said, "What is the grave crime she has committed? She is not a drug lord or a terrorist. She has not committed 302 (murder). She is not an NDPS offender. You should have a system or software. You complete the investigation. She has lost everything and will not get a job anywhere."

In opposition to her anticipatory bail, the Delhi Police and UPSC claimed she had deceived the public and the commission. Additionally, the Delhi High Court denied her request for anticipatory bail, depriving her of temporary protection.

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) cancelled her candidacy and prohibited her from taking any future exams. She was also officially dismissed from the Indian Administrative Service by the central government, citing IAS (Probation) Rule 12.

When the state's OBC welfare minister ordered an investigation into her claims of being a member of the OBC non-creamy layer, her case took a significant turn. She is charged with submitting fictitious certificates to the UPSC in order to pass the extremely difficult civil service examinations. 

According to reports, she used several certificates demonstrating various disabilities, such as mental illness, low vision, and locomotor problems. A major point of concern has been the use of different names during the application process— Khedkar Puja Deeliprao and Puja Manorama Dilip Khedkar— which raised doubts about the number of attempts she made. 

She was also charged with circumventing the maximum exam attempt rule by changing her name. She worked as an Indian Revenue Service officer and was assigned to the Sports Authority of India prior to being selected for the IAS.

She had previously used the OBC and PwBD (low vision) categories for her IRS post but later used PwBD (multiple disabilities) and a new OBC certificate to qualify for the IAS.