Pune: Delhi High Court To Hear Puja Khedkar’s Anticipatory Bail Petition on 12th August
New Delhi/Pune, 9th August 2024: The Delhi High Court has scheduled a hearing for 12th August to review former IAS officer Puja Khedkar’s petition contesting a district court’s decision to deny her anticipatory bail. The FIR against Khedkar alleges that she misrepresented her identity to secure additional attempts in the civil services exam.
Due to the absence of Justice Subramonium Prasad today, Khedkar’s anticipatory bail hearing has been postponed to Monday (12th August). This follows the rejection of her plea by Delhi’s Patiala House Court last week, which deemed the charges—related to identity falsification for extra examination attempts—as serious and in need of detailed investigation.
The trial court judge stated that custodial interrogation was necessary to uncover the full extent of the conspiracy and identify other individuals involved. Additional Sessions Judge Devender Kumar Jangala noted that, given the circumstances, anticipatory bail was not warranted.
The court observed that the accused faces charges under various sections, including IPC Sections 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property), 468 (forgery for cheating), 471 (using as genuine a forged document or electronic record), and 120B (criminal conspiracy), as well as Section 66D of the Information Technology Act of 2000 and Sections 89/91 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act of 2016. The allegations involve deceit and manipulation of documents.
The complainant, the UPSC, has prepared multiple documents to support its claim of misrepresentation. The court emphasized that the conspiracy appears to have been carefully planned and executed over several years, likely with external assistance. Additionally, the status of the OBC (non-creamy layer) and disability benefits is under scrutiny.
The court also pointed out that the UPSC, as a constitutional body responsible for exams for prestigious posts, must uphold the highest standards of transparency and fairness. The breach of the UPSC’s standard operating procedures (SOP) by the accused raises concerns about potential systemic weaknesses. The court suggested that the UPSC review its SOPs and examine past recommendations to identify candidates who may have benefited improperly.
The investigating agency has been directed to expand its investigation to include:
Candidates who may have exceeded permissible exam attempts, Individuals who improperly claimed OBC (non-creamy layer) status or disability benefits, and any potential insider assistance in achieving these illegal goals. The Delhi High Court has recently allowed Puja Khedkar to challenge the cancellation of her candidature through the appropriate legal channels. Meanwhile, the UPSC has assured the court that Khedkar will receive the order cancelling her candidature within two days.
