UPSC Cheating Case: SC Stays Arrest Of Ex-IAS Trainee Puja Khedkar Till Feb 14

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday granted interim protection from arrest to former IAS trainee Puja Khedkar, accused of cheating and fraudulently availing benefits under the OBC quota to clear the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) exams.

While hearing Khedkar’s plea seeking anticipatory bail, a bench of justices B V Nagarathna and Satish Chandra Sharma issued notice to the Delhi government and the UPSC, directing that no coercive steps be taken against her till February 14, the next date of hearing.

She had moved the SC, challenging the Delhi High Court’s December 23 order rejecting her plea for anticipatory bail.

In July, the UPSC cancelled her candidature and debarred her from future exams following a number of complaints, alleging she had fraudulently claimed herself as OBC (non creamy layer) candidate and a person with benchmark disabilities. An FIR was also lodged against her with the Delhi police crime branch, alleging she faked her identity to fraudulently exceed the permissible exam attempts.

She was recommended as PwBD candidate in 2022 and got assigned Maharashtra cadre.

Two months later, the Union government sacked Khedkar. She, however, has denied all charges against her and claimed she is being targeted for making sexual harassment charge against her senior.