The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed discharged IAS probationary officer Ms. Puja Khedkar to respond by April 15 to the Delhi Police’s charges of fraudulently availing quota benefits to appear multiple times in the Civil Services Examination (CSE).
Court’s Observations
The court remarked that a candidate who has exhausted attempts as an abled candidate cannot claim separate attempts as a disabled candidate. A bench led by Justice B.V. Nagarathna, along with Justice S.C. Sharma, asked Ms. Khedkar to justify her position while responding to the Delhi Police’s allegation that she was part of a larger racket.
Ms. Khedkar maintained that she still had remaining attempts under the disability category. However, the court firmly stated, “You cannot have separate attempts for abled and disabled categories.”
Supreme Court Extends Protection from Arrest
The Supreme Court had earlier issued a notice on January 15, 2025, granting Ms. Khedkar protection from arrest or any coercive action. This protection has now been extended until the next hearing.
Background of the Case
Ms. Khedkar, a 2023 batch IAS officer of the Maharashtra cadre, was discharged from service on September 7, 2024, following an investigation into her misuse of OBC and PwBD quota benefits. Her candidature was canceled by UPSC on July 31, 2024, due to suppression of information.
Delhi Police’s Allegations
Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Mr. S.V. Raju, appearing for the Delhi Police, stated that Ms. Khedkar was aided by others in forging medical certificates to obtain multiple attempts in CSE. He argued that there was a “bigger scam” and that custodial interrogation was necessary to uncover the full extent of the conspiracy.
However, the Supreme Court questioned whether custodial interrogation was required, stating that Ms. Khedkar was not the “kingpin” of the alleged scam. The court directed the police to proceed with their investigation “steadfastedly” and questioned why she had not yet been called for interrogation.
Fraudulent Attempts and Disability Claims
According to the Delhi Police, Ms. Khedkar appeared for the CSE under the backward class category since 2012. In 2018, she claimed disability status, citing 40% low vision. She exhausted her nine permissible attempts in 2020 but allegedly continued to appear under a changed name. In 2022, she secured selection under the disability quota.
The police pointed out that two disability certificates were issued by the same hospital in Maharashtra on January 18, 2021—one indicating 40% low vision disability and another claiming hearing impairment and locomotor disability.
Khedkar’s Defense
Ms. Khedkar’s lawyer, Ms. Bina Madhavan, argued that her disability developed over time and that she qualified for the disability quota only after passing medical evaluations by AIIMS doctors. She insisted that as a PwBD candidate, she had only attempted CSE three times and had not yet exhausted her attempts.
She further argued that the charges against her were based on documentary evidence already in police possession, making custodial interrogation unnecessary.
Previous Court Rulings
Earlier, both the Delhi High Court and a city court denied Ms. Khedkar pre-arrest bail, with the High Court making scathing observations about a larger conspiracy. The court noted that her actions were an attempt to manipulate the UPSC system.
Next Steps
Ms. Khedkar must submit her response by April 15, after which the Supreme Court will decide whether her protection from arrest will continue. Meanwhile, the Delhi Police is expected to intensify its investigation into the alleged scam.
Also Read: Former IAS Trainee Puja Khedkar Moves Supreme Court Against Denial of Anticipatory Bail
