Delhi HC denies anticipatory bail to former IAS probationer Puja Khedkar | India News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Saying there is a “strong prima facie case” against former IAS probationer Puja Khedkar, Delhi high court on Monday refused to grant her anticipatory bail in connection with alleged cheating and forgery to wrongly avail OBC and disability quota benefits in the civil services examination.
Justice Chandra Dhari Singh said it was “prima facie established that the conduct of the petitioner was solely driven by the motive to dupe the complainant, UPSC, and all documents allegedly forged by her were done to reap benefits from schemes introduced for disadvantaged groups in society.” Khedkar is accused of misrepresenting information in her application for the UPSC Civil Services Examination, 2022, to get reservation benefits.
Setting aside the interim protection from arrest and declining relief, HC noted that an investigation is required to unearth the “larger conspiracy” to manipulate the system, which would be adversely impacted if the accused was granted pre-arrest bail. “Apart from owning luxury cars and various properties, the family of the petitioner — father and mother — have held high positions in the executive. Therefore, there is a high possibility that the family members colluded with unknown powerful persons to get the requisite certificates produced by the petitioner,” Justice Singh observed while dismissing Khedkar’s anticipatory bail plea.