Delhi HC grants protection from arrest to Puja Khedkar till Aug 21

In a major relief to beleaguered trainee IAS officer Puja Khedkar, the Delhi High Court on August 12 provided her protection from arrest until August 21.

Justice Subramonium Prasad directed the Delhi police and the UPSC to respond to Khedkar's anticipatory bail application. The court has listed the case for further hearing on August 21.

Khedkar is accused of fraud and wrongfully claiming benefits under the OBC and disability quotas.

“It does not seem to be at the moment that her immediate custody is required. Here when I saw the orders, the trial court was boggled from the offence which was committed but not as to why bail should or should not be granted,” Justice Prasad told senior advocate Naresh Kaushik, who appeared for the UPSC.

"The court is of the opinion that the petitioner be not arrested till the next date of hearing," said Justice Prasad.

Khedkar allegedly provided false information in her application for the UPSC Civil Services Examination, 2022, to obtain reservation benefits. On July 31, the UPSC took action by canceling Khedkar's candidature and prohibiting her from appearing in future examinations.

A sessions court had rejected Khedkar's anticipatory bail plea on August 1 stating that the allegations against her are serious and necessitate a thorough investigation. Khedkar had approached the sessions court, claiming that she was under "immediate threat of arrest".