Not a Murderer or Drug Lord’: Supreme Court Grants Anticipatory Bail to Ex-IAS Probationer Puja Khedkar

Delhi, May 21, 2025 — In a significant legal development, the Supreme Court of India on Wednesday granted anticipatory bail to former IAS probationer Puja Khedkar, who is facing allegations of cheating and misusing OBC and disability quota benefits to secure a position in the civil services examination.

A bench comprising Justice BV Nagarathna and Justice Satish Chandra Sharma questioned the gravity of the charges, stating, “She is not a drug lord or a terrorist. She has not committed murder or violated NDPS laws. What grave crime has she committed?” The court’s remarks came while hearing Khedkar’s appeal against the Delhi High Court’s earlier order denying her interim bail.

Background of the Case

Puja Khedkar, a former IAS probationer who had joined the Pune Collectorate in June 2024, came under scrutiny after allegations surfaced that she had misrepresented her caste and disability status during the UPSC application process. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) subsequently canceled her candidature on July 31, 2024, and permanently debarred her from appearing in future examinations.

The Delhi High Court, in its December 23 judgment, labeled the incident as a “classic example of fraud” against both a constitutional body and society at large. It emphasized that a thorough interrogation was required to uncover the depth of the alleged misconduct.

Supreme Court’s Observations

However, the apex court took a more lenient view, noting that Khedkar had no criminal antecedents and had already lost her career as a consequence of the ongoing investigation. The bench criticized the delay in the probe and stated:

“There appears to be no concrete investigation done against the petitioner so far. You should have a system or software to verify such claims at the time of application.”

The court had earlier, on April 21, directed Khedkar to appear before the Delhi Police on May 2 for questioning. Despite allegations of her non-cooperation, the Supreme Court granted anticipatory bail on the condition that she would fully cooperate with the investigation moving forward.

Delhi Police’s Stand

The Delhi Police strongly opposed the bail plea, citing the seriousness of the charges and alleging that Khedkar was not cooperating with investigators. However, the Supreme Court emphasized that Khedkar is entitled to legal safeguards under the All India Services Act and the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, until proven otherwise.

What’s Next?

The court has directed the Delhi Police to complete the investigation expeditiously, stating that the protection from arrest is conditional on her cooperation. Khedkar continues to maintain that she is innocent and has been wrongly targeted, asserting that her appointment had followed due process, including physical verification.