Has she killed someone, asks Supreme Court, grants bail to Puja Khedkar

NEW DELHI: Supreme Court on Wednesday granted anticipatory bail to former IAS probationer Puja Khedkar, who is facing allegations of using fake OBC & PwD certificates in the civil services (UPSC) examination. Facing threat of being arrested, she had moved the court for pre-arrest bail in the case.

A bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and Satish Chandra Sharma, while allowing her plea and granting her relief claimed under Section 482 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, said, "What is the grave crime she has committed? She is not a drug lord or a terrorist. She has not committed 302 (murder). She is not an NDPS offender. You should have a system or a software. You complete the investigation. She has lost everything and will not get a job anywhere."

The bench ordered: "Having regard to the nature of offences registered against her and bearing in mind the facts and circumstances of the case, this is a fit case where HC ought to have granted the relief of anticipatory bail to the appellant herein. In the event of arrest the appellant be released on bail, furnishing cash sureties of Rs 25,000 with two live sureties. She shall not misuse her liberty and shall not in any way influence the witnesses or tamper with the material on records. Should there be any violation of the aforesaid conditions, the liberty is reserved to the respondent to seek cancellation of anticipatory bail."

'SC order validates my stance'
Khedkar said that she was "relieved" by SC order granting her anticipatory bail. "SC order validates my stance. A wrong narrative against me was built in the media, but I was certain that I would get justice," she said.