Delhi High Court Extends Interim Protection for IAS Officer Puja Khedkar Till August 29

NEW DELHI:
The Delhi High Court has extended the interim protection from arrest for suspended trainee IAS officer Puja Khedkar until August 29. Khedkar faces allegations of falsifying and misrepresenting facts in her application to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).

Justice Subramonium Prasad deferred the hearing on her anticipatory bail plea to August 29, 2024, as the Delhi Police’s reply had not yet been filed. Senior Advocate Siddharth Luthra sought additional time to review the UPSC’s response, which opposes her plea.

The High Court earlier noted that the trial court had denied Khedkar’s bail request without substantial discussion, citing only the Public Prosecutor’s claims. The court has instructed the police not to arrest Khedkar until further proceedings, while also scrutinizing the involvement of other suspects and potential breaches in UPSC’s scrutiny system.