The Delhi High Court has extended the interim protection from arrest for Puja Khedkar
The delhi high court has extended the interim protection from arrest for Puja Khedkar
The delhi high court has extended the interim protection from arrest for Puja Khedkar, a former IAS trainee, in connection with allegations of misuse of power related to the Union Public service Commission (UPSC) exams. The protection will remain in effect until september 5.
This decision follows a hearing on Khedkar's anticipatory bail plea, where Justice Subramonium prasad deferred the case to august 29, 2024, due to the delhi police not having filed their response. Senior advocate siddharth Luthra, representing Khedkar, also requested more time to review the UPSC's opposition to the bail plea.
Previously, the delhi high court had noted that the trial court's denial of bail for Khedkar lacked detailed discussion and was based on a brief mention of claims made by the public prosecutor. The high court had instructed the police not to arrest Khedkar while the proceedings are ongoing.
On Wednesday, Khedkar denied the charges of forgery and challenged her disqualification, arguing that the UPSC does not have the authority to disqualify her. She filed a rejoinder to counter the UPSC’s opposition and asserted that she did not fabricate her documents.
The allegations against Khedkar include falsifying and misrepresenting facts in her UPSC application. The UPSC has described Khedkar as a "mastermind" behind the alleged fraud, suggesting that her actions could not have been carried out without accomplices, and argued that custodial interrogation is necessary.
On July 31, the UPSC canceled Khedkar’s provisional candidature, barred her from future examinations, and initiated a criminal case against her for cheating, fraud, and forgery. Her plea follows the dismissal of her request for bail by Delhi’s patiala House court, which deemed the charges serious and requiring a thorough investigation.
This decision follows a hearing on Khedkar's anticipatory bail plea, where Justice Subramonium prasad deferred the case to august 29, 2024, due to the delhi police not having filed their response. Senior advocate siddharth Luthra, representing Khedkar, also requested more time to review the UPSC's opposition to the bail plea.
Previously, the delhi high court had noted that the trial court's denial of bail for Khedkar lacked detailed discussion and was based on a brief mention of claims made by the public prosecutor. The high court had instructed the police not to arrest Khedkar while the proceedings are ongoing.
On Wednesday, Khedkar denied the charges of forgery and challenged her disqualification, arguing that the UPSC does not have the authority to disqualify her. She filed a rejoinder to counter the UPSC’s opposition and asserted that she did not fabricate her documents.
The allegations against Khedkar include falsifying and misrepresenting facts in her UPSC application. The UPSC has described Khedkar as a "mastermind" behind the alleged fraud, suggesting that her actions could not have been carried out without accomplices, and argued that custodial interrogation is necessary.
On July 31, the UPSC canceled Khedkar’s provisional candidature, barred her from future examinations, and initiated a criminal case against her for cheating, fraud, and forgery. Her plea follows the dismissal of her request for bail by Delhi’s patiala House court, which deemed the charges serious and requiring a thorough investigation.