Supreme Court Extends Arrest Protection for Ex-IAS Officer Puja Khedkar in Fraud Case

Khedkar faces allegations of forging documents to misuse reservation benefits in the UPSC exam, with the court directing Delhi Police to expedite their investigation.

The Supreme Court has extended interim protection from arrest for Puja Khedkar until April 15, 2025, in a case involving alleged fraud in the UPSC examination.
Khedkar is accused of using a forged disability certificate to obtain additional attempts and reservation benefits in the competitive exam.
The Delhi Police has sought custodial interrogation to uncover a larger conspiracy involving other individuals and forged documents.
Khedkar denies the allegations, asserting that her disability certificate was issued by an AIIMS medical board and that she is cooperating with the investigation.
The court ruled that candidates cannot avail separate UPSC exam attempts as both 'abled' and 'disabled' candidates, emphasizing systemic concerns about quota misuse.