‘Do NOT arrest…’: Delhi HC grants interim arrest protection to former IAS trainee Puja Khedkar in cheating case

The Delhi High Court on Monday granted interim protection from arrest till August 21 to former IAS probationer Puja Khedkar, who has been accused of cheating and wrongly availing OBC and disability quota benefits.

Justice Subramonium Prasad issued notices to both the Delhi Police and the UPSC regarding Puja Khedkar's anticipatory bail application and requested that they submit their responses. The court scheduled the next hearing for August 21.

“In the facts of the present case, the court is of the opinion that the petitioner be not arrested till the next date of hearing,” Justice Prasad said as quoted by PTI.

Puja Khedkar allegedly misrepresented information in her application for the UPSC Civil Services Examination, 2022, to get reservation benefits. On July 31, the UPSC cancelled Khedkar's candidature and debarred her from future exams.

On August 1, a sessions court denied her anticipatory bail, saying the serious allegations against her “require a thorough investigation”. 

Khedkar had approached the sessions court, saying she faced an “immediate threat of arrest”.

Earlier, police have also registered a case against Dilip Khedkar, the father of Puja Khedkar, on charges of threatening and obstructing a public servant in the discharge of duty in Pune district.

The case was filed at the Bundgarden police station here on the basis of a complaint lodged by a tehsildar-rank officer from the Pune district collectorate, said officials.

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) recently cancelled the selection of Puja Khedkar and also permanently debarred her from all future exams and selections. She is currently untraceable after an FIR was registered against her in Delhi as she is accused of 'misrepresenting information' in her application for the UPSC Civil Services Examination, 2022.

The 2023 batch officer is accused of misusing power and privileges by demanding perks and facilities she was not entitled for, during her training at the Pune district collectorate.

(With inputs from agencies)