Puja Khedkar News: Former IAS trainee Puja Khedkar, accused of cheating and wrongly taking advantage of Other Backward Classes (OBC) and Divyang quota in UPSC PCS exam, has approached the Supreme Court for anticipatory bail. A bench of Justice BV Nagarathna and Justice Satish Chandra Sharma will hear the petition on Wednesday (January 15).

Pooja Khedkar has challenged the Delhi High Court order of 23 December 2024 last year, in which she was denied anticipatory bail. The High Court had said that a strong prima facie case is made out against Pooja Khedkar and an investigation is needed to unearth the 'big conspiracy' to manipulate the system. Granting bail before arrest would have an adverse effect on this. In such a situation, the High Court had said, "The anticipatory bail plea is dismissed. Interim protection from arrest is revoked." 

'Pooja Khedkar case is a big example of cheating the society' - High Court
Last year on August 12, 2024, when the High Court issued notice on the anticipatory bail plea, Pooja Khedkar was granted interim protection from arrest. It was extended from time to time. The court said that the Civil Services Examination of the Union Public Service Commission ( UPSC ) is the most prestigious examination and this case is a big example of cheating the constitutional body as well as the society.

Pooja Khedkar had denied the allegations
Pooja Khedkar is accused of giving false information in her application for UPSC Civil Services Examination, 2022 to get reservation benefits. She denied all the allegations against her. UPSC initiated several actions including registering a criminal case against Pooja Khedkar for appearing in the Civil Services Examination on the basis of fake identity. Delhi Police had registered an FIR against Pooja Khedkar for various crimes.