Delhi HC extends interim protection of suspended IAS Puja Khedkar till September 5

Delhi High Court extends protection for suspended IAS officer Puja Khedkar until next hearing on September 5.

The Delhi High Court on Thursday (August 29, 2024) extended the interim protection from arrest for suspended IAS officer Puja Khedkar. The extension remains in effect until the next hearing date which is September 5, 2024.

Justice Subramonium Prasad of the Delhi High Court has deferred the hearing on suspended IAS officer Puja Khedkar's anticipatory bail plea to September 5.The deferral was due to the Delhi Police sought time to go through the rejoinder filed by the applicant Puja Khedkar and also to file a fresh status report. Puja Khedkar, facing allegations of cheating and improperly securing OBC and disability quota benefits, through her rejoinder in the Delhi High Court informed that the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) lacks the authority to disqualify her.

Ms. Khedkar argued that the UPSC, which administers the civil services examination, does not have the jurisdiction to disqualify candidates in such matters. Earlier, the same bench of the Delhi High Court had issued notices to the Delhi Police and Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) regarding the anticipatory bail plea of suspended IAS officer Puja Khedkar. The court had also instructed the investigation agency not to arrest her while the matter is under consideration, noting that immediate arrest is not deemed necessary.

The Delhi High Court earlier observed that the trial court's order denying bail for Puja Khedkar lacks substantial discussion, with only a brief mention of the Public Prosecutor's claim about the involvement of others. The High Court has instructed the police not to arrest Khedkar until Friday, pending further proceedings.

UPSC had argued that Puja Khedkar is a "mastermind" and that her actions would not have been possible without the assistance of others. This argument supports their position that custodial interrogation is necessary.

Puja Khedkar's plea in Delhi High Court follows the dismissal of her plea by Delhi's Patiala House Court last week, which found the allegations against her — related to falsifying identity for extra attempts in the civil services examination — to be serious and in need of thorough investigation.

The trial court Judge said that custodial interrogation of the accused is required to unearth the whole conspiracy and to establish involvement of the other persons involved in conspiracy. In the present facts and circumstances, I am of the considered opinion that it is not a fit case to exercise discretionary powers of anticipatory bail in favour of the accused, said Additional Sessions Judge Devender Kumar Jangala said.