New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday granted anticipatory bail to former IAS trainee officer Puja Khedkar, who is accused of forging documents and wrongly availing OBC and disability quota benefits to obtain eligibility for the 2022 civil services examination.
Even as Delhi Police strongly opposed bail to bail, saying that she has not been cooperating with the investigation, the top court observed that she is not a “drug lord or a terrorist.”
A bench comprising Justices B V Nagarathna and Satish Chandra Sharma asked what kind of a grave crime has Khedkar committed, PTI reported.
“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 a software. You complete the investigation. She has lost everything and will not get a job anywhere,” the Supreme Court said.
“Bearing in mind the facts and circumstances of the case, this is a fit case where the Delhi High Court ought to have granted bail to the petitioner,” the two-member bench stated, providing relief to Khedkar.
Last month, the Supreme Court had directed Khedkar to appear before Delhi Police for questioning on May 2. It had stated that while she will not be arrested, “drastic” measures will be taken if she refuses to cooperate with the investigation.
In March, Khedkar was told by the top court that she cannot avail separate attempts to clear the test as an “able candidate” and a “disabled” candidate.
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) last year cancelled the provisional candidature of Khedkar following allegations of irregularities against her. She was also permanently debarred from appearing for any exam conducted by the body.
Khedkar has refuted all allegations levelled against her.