December 23, 2024: The Delhi High Court on Monday refused to grant anticipatory bail to Puja Khedkar, a dismissed Indian Administrative Service (IAS) trainee, in connection with a major UPSC cheating scandal. Khedkar is accused of using fraudulent means to gain extra attempts in the prestigious Civil Services Examination by impersonating herself.

In its judgment, the court emphasized that Khedkar's actions were part of a larger conspiracy to manipulate the UPSC system, which it described as a "classic example of fraud" not only against the constitutional body but also against society as a whole. Justice Chandra Dhari Singh, who presided over the case, noted that granting anticipatory bail at this stage would hinder the ongoing investigation into the conspiracy.

The court observed that the steps taken by Khedkar to fraudulently secure more examination attempts were integral to a larger plot, the full extent of which could only be revealed through further investigation. The judgment pointed out that allowing Khedkar to avoid arrest would undermine the inquiry and obstruct the efforts to uncover the full scope of the fraud.

The case against Khedkar emerged earlier this year, when the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) lodged a criminal complaint against her. She is alleged to have misrepresented her identity in her UPSC application for the 2022 Civil Services Examination in order to claim reservation benefits. The authorities also allege that Khedkar illegally availed additional attempts beyond the permissible limit.

In September 2024, the Centre took action by discharging Khedkar from her probationary position in the IAS after an internal investigation found evidence of misconduct. This discharge is a term used for dismissing probationary officers, and Khedkar was dismissed following the completion of an inquiry into her actions.

Khedkar, however, has denied all the charges against her. Both the Delhi Police and the UPSC have strongly opposed her application for anticipatory bail, asserting that her actions posed a threat to the integrity of the UPSC examination system.

The investigation into this case is ongoing, with Khedkar remaining at the center of a high-profile legal battle as authorities continue to uncover the extent of the fraud.