Ex-IAS trainee Puja Khedkar denied pre-arrest bail

The Delhi High Court has denied anticipatory bail to dismissed IAS trainee officer Puja Khedkar in the UPSC cheating case. She is accused of fraudulently availing attempts in the UPSC examination beyond the permissible limit by faking her identity. The high court said that the steps taken by Khedkar were a part of the large conspiracy to manipulate the system. 
A bench of Justice Chandra Dhari Singh opined that the present case was a “classic example of fraud committed not only against constitutional body UPSC” but against the society at large and grant of anticipatory bail would affect the investigation to unearth the conspiracy.The charges against her, which include forgery and cheating, are a "classic example of fraud committed not only an authority but also the nation at large", the court said Monday afternoon.“This court is prima facie satisfied that a strong case has been made out and the said conduct is a part of the large conspiracy which can only be revealed if the investigating agency is given the option to investigate. The steps taken by the petitioner (Khedkar) were a part of large conspiracy to manipulate the system and investigation will be affected if she is granted anticipatory bail,” justice Singh said while pronouncing the verdict.
Khedkar is accused of misrepresenting information in her application for the UPSC Civil Services Examination, 2022, to get reservation benefits. The counsel for the Delhi Police as well as the complainant, the Union Public Service commission,The Delhi Police registered an FIR under provisions of the Indian Penal Code, Information Technology Act and Right of Persons with Disabilities Act.