New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Monday denied anticipatory bail to former IAS probationer Pooja Khedkar in a criminal case filed against her for cheating in the civil services examination and wrongly obtaining OBC and disability quota benefits.” Anticipatory bail plea dismissed. Security from arrest vacated,’ Justice Chandradhari Singh while delivering the judgment on the petition said.
Justice Singh said that a strong prima facie case was made out against Khedkar and an investigation was required to unearth the conspiracy.
This is a classic case of fraud perpetrated on constitutional bodies and society, the judge said.
Khedkar has been accused of giving false information in his application for the UPSC Civil Services Examination, 2022 to avail the benefit of reservation.
Delhi Police’s counsel and the complainant, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), opposed the pre-arrest bail plea.
UPSC was represented by Senior Advocate Naresh Kaushik and Advocate Vardhaman Kaushik.
Khedkar has denied all the allegations leveled against him.
The UPSC initiated a series of actions against Khedkar, including registering a criminal case in July, for attempting to appear in the civil services examination by forging his identity.
The Delhi Police registered an FIR under provisions of the Indian Penal Code, the Information Technology Act, and the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act.