Puja Khedkar Likely to be Arrested After Delhi HC Judgment

In a significant legal development, the Delhi High Court on Monday dismissed the anticipatory bail plea of former probationary IAS officer Puja Khedkar.

She stands accused of misrepresenting and falsifying facts in her application for the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Examination, 2022. The denial of bail and the court’s decision to vacate her interim protection from arrest increases the likelihood of her being taken into custody.

Court’s Observations and Rationale

Justice Chandra Dhari Singh delivered the judgment with strong observations against Khedkar.

It prima facie noted a strong case against her and emphasized how she had misrepresentatively used facts to further misuse the quotas provided to disadvantageous groups such as Other Backward Classes (OBC) and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD). The court of law held that her acts were not isolated mistakes but were a part of a well-thought-out, large-scale conspiracy.

It observed that Khedkar’s fraud did not only lower the credibility of the UPSC examination, which is among the most premier competitive exams in the world, but also broke the trust of society as large.

The court called it a breach of constitutional principles and an abuse of the system devised to bring justice and upliftment to marginalized sections of society.

Interim protection vacated

Vacating interim protection from arrest is perhaps one of the most critical orders by the High Court; the said protection was granted to Khedkar in August. As the interim protection has been vacated, the police can arrest her as well if needed in furtherance of the probe.

The court explicitly mentioned that the custodial interrogation of Khedkar was necessary to establish the true extent of the conspiracy and who else was involved in Khedkar’s fraudulent activity.

Delhi Police claimed that documentary evidence was not sufficient and that only through direct interrogation would it be able to determine the depth of the wrongs done.

Allegations against Khedkar

The allegations against Khedkar are grave. It is claimed that she manipulated her identity by changing her name, her parents’ names, photograph, signature, mobile number, email address, and residential address in her UPSC application. These changes allowed her to fraudulently claim benefits under the reserved categories.

In addition, UPSC has also charged her with accepting attempts in the examination more than the permissible limit, which was done through misrepresentation. Her conduct, according to UPSC, has a clear pattern of deception and manipulation.

Order for Wider Investigation

The trial court, after having refused anticipatory bail earlier, had directed the investigating agency to expand its investigation.

It includes examining earlier candidates who might have taken similar unlawful benefits under OBC or PwBD categories. The investigation is also supposed to see if other persons, including influential persons or family members, were involved in abetting or assisting Khedkar in committing such crimes.

UPSC’s Position on the Issue

The UPSC, which filed the complaint leading to the FIR against Khedkar, described her as a ‘mastermind’ behind a complex web of deception.

It highlighted that her actions not only undermined the credibility of the examination process but also deprived deserving candidates of their rightful opportunities.

In its public judgment, the UPSC stated that upon thorough investigation, it could be found that Khedkar had committed repeated violations under the Civil Services Examination Rules. Therefore, her candidature was cancelled, and she was permanently debarred from appearing in future UPSC examinations.

The Implications of the Judgment

The judgment of the Delhi High Court sends a strong message against fraud and misuse of reservation policies.

By vacating the interim protection and allowing her potential arrest, the court has underscored the importance of accountability in public service examinations. If Khedkar is arrested, it is likely to pave the way for further revelations about how systemic loopholes were exploited.

This case also raises a much bigger issue of fraudulent claims in public service recruitment processes. It raises the need for stronger verification mechanisms and oversight to prevent such occurrences in the future.

Khedkar’s Defense

Throughout the legal process, Khedkar had maintained that she would cooperate with the investigation and that her custodial interrogation was not required since all the evidence was documentary. However, both the trial court and the High Court rejected these arguments, insisting on the need for custodial interrogation to unearth the broader conspiracy.

Public Reaction and Future Course

The case has outraged the general public, especially aspirants who toil for years to clear the UPSC examination. It is a feeling that somebody could manipulate the system brazenly.

Now that the legal process continues, Khedkar’s arrest seems inevitable. The probe will go deep into the network of people who might have supported her action and if influential people are involved.

The Delhi High Court’s order of dismissal of anticipatory bail and vacation of interim protection is a crucial turning point in this high-profile case.

A prima facie case having been made out against Puja Khedkar, her arrest seems inevitable. This case is a grim reminder of the need for integrity, transparency, and accountability in one of the nation’s most prestigious public service recruitment processes.

The outcome of the investigation will not only decide Khedkar’s fate but may also lead to significant reforms in the verification processes of the UPSC to prevent such frauds in the future. For now, the legal machinery is set in motion, and all eyes are on the next steps in this unfolding saga.