Supreme Court directs former IAS probationer Puja Khedkar to appear before Delhi Police on May 2

The Supreme Court on Monday directed former IAS probationer Puja Khedkar, accused of cheating, and wrongly availing of OBC and disability quota benefits in the civil services examination, to appear before Delhi Police on May 2.

A bench comprising Justices BV Nagarathna and Satish Chandra Sharma said no coercive steps would be taken against Khedkar till May 21, the next date of hearing.

“It appears there has been no concrete investigation against the petitioner as such. In the circumstances, we direct the petitioner to appear before the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Central Range, Crime Branch, 2d Floor, Kamla Market Police Station, Delhi on May 2, at 10.30 am," the bench said.

The order added, “It is needless to observe that the respondent/police authority is at liberty to interrogate the petitioner on May 2 and/or on any other date on which she may be summoned for the purpose of investigation."

The bench ordered no coercive steps, such as arrest, against Khedkar till the next hearing.

“The aforesaid interim protection has been granted to the petitioner herein subject to the petitioner cooperating with the investigation to be carried out by the respondent/police authority," the bench said and directed Delhi Police to conclude the probe expeditiously.

Additional solicitor general SV Raju, representing Delhi Police, stressed on Khedkar’s custodial interrogation.

On January 15, the top court granted her protection from arrest and sought the response of the Delhi government and the UPSC on her plea seeking anticipatory bail.

India