UPSC cheating case: SC extends interim protection from arrest to former IAS trainee Puja Khedkar

The Supreme Court on Tuesday extended interim protection from arrest for former IAS trainee Puja Khedkar in the UPSC cheating case. The apex court will next hear the case on April 21.

 

A bench comprising Justices B.V. Nagarathna and Satish Chandra Sharma took note of the submissions of Khedkar's counsel that her rejoinder to the reply filed by the Delhi government has been filed, but it has not come on record, PTI reported. Granting Khedkar’s counsel’s request, the bench extended the protection granted to Khedkar from arrest till the next hearing.

 

During the previous hearing, the Supreme Court directed Delhi police to expedite the probe in the case. The bench questioned the delay in the probe despite Khedkar expressing willingness to cooperate with the case. While Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju, appearing for the Delhi police, argued they needed custodial interrogation of Khedkar, the bench probed why Khedkar’s custody was necessary and observed it wasn’t necessary to finish the probe against her. 

 

Delhi police had argued custodial interrogation of Khedkar was needed to probe the “larger scam” related to the issuance of fake certificates submitted by Khedkar to UPSC. Police sought Khedkar’s custody to nab the middlemen involved. 

 

Khedkar, a former IAS trainee with Maharashtra cadre, is accused of producing fake caste and disability certificates to avail UPSC examination attempts beyond the permitted limit. During the previous hearing, Khedkar denied the charges against her and argued she had availed only three attempts after being diagnosed with low vision. However, the bench turned down the argument and said a candidate cannot avail separate as an able candidate and as a disabled candidate.

India