Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday granted anticipatory bail to former IAS trainee Puja Khedkar, who is under investigation for allegedly submitting forged documents—including a fake disability certificate and OBC status—to qualify for India’s prestigious civil services examination. The court overruled a Delhi High Court order that had earlier denied her relief, stating that she had not cooperated with the investigation.
Relief granted with stern warnings
A bench led by Justice BV Nagarathna granted Khedkar bail on the condition that she post a cash surety of ₹35,000 and fully cooperate with the probe. The court warned her not to influence witnesses or tamper with evidence. Dismissing the High Court’s conclusions, the Supreme Court questioned the logic of continued custody, observing, “She has not committed murder. This is not an NDPS case. She will cooperate.”
Alleged forgery and misuse of reservations
Khedkar is accused of using forged documents to claim benefits meant for candidates from the Other Backward Classes (OBC) and persons with disabilities. The UPSC has already cancelled her selection and blacklisted her. The probe has widened, with the Delhi Police suggesting a potential network involving officials who may have aided in securing fake certificates.
Court rejects need for custody
Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, appearing for Delhi Police, argued against granting bail, citing the need to uncover a broader conspiracy. The bench, however, said the source of the forged certificates could be traced without holding Khedkar in custody. It also referenced her affidavit assuring full cooperation.
Repeated SC intervention in the case
This is the second time the top court has questioned the Delhi High Court’s approach. In January, it had granted interim protection to Khedkar and observed that the nature of charges warranted anticipatory bail. The Supreme Court extended this interim protection in March and reiterated on Tuesday that the lower court’s findings were insufficient to deny bail.
UPSC and police cite larger fraud
While Khedkar has denied wrongdoing and claimed she is being targeted for filing a sexual harassment complaint against a senior, the UPSC told the court that her actions amounted to a “fraud against the public.” The agency argued that custodial interrogation was essential to probe the extent of systemic abuse of reservation norms.
From trainee perks to full-blown scandal
Khedkar’s alleged misuse of privilege first came to light in June 2023 when Pune Collector Suhas Diwase wrote to Maharashtra’s Chief Secretary about her demands for VIP perks as a probationer. She was transferred to Washim, and her credentials soon came under review. Investigations revealed that she had bypassed a government health screening, misused disability claims, and used a non-eligible OBC certificate despite her family’s ₹40 crore asset profile.
