Wed May 21 08:23:38 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article based on the provided text, written from an Indian perspective:

**Supreme Court Grants Anticipatory Bail to Former IAS Probationer Accused of Quota Misuse**

**New Delhi, May 21, 2025** – The Supreme Court of India has granted anticipatory bail to Puja Khedkar, a former IAS probationer accused of cheating and improperly utilizing OBC and disability quota benefits during the 2022 civil services examination. The decision, delivered on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, by a Bench comprising Justices B.V. Nagarathna and Satish Chandra Sharma, mandates Ms. Khedkar to cooperate fully with the ongoing investigation.

The case highlights concerns surrounding the integrity of the reservation system and the potential for its misuse. Ms. Khedkar stands accused of misrepresenting information in her UPSC application to wrongly avail reservation benefits, a charge she vehemently denies. The UPSC has taken a firm stance, initiating both internal disciplinary action and a criminal case against her, citing instances of alleged identity fabrication to gain additional attempts at the highly competitive civil services examination. The Delhi Police has also filed an FIR against her for various offenses.

During the hearing, the Supreme Court Justices questioned the necessity of denying bail, emphasizing that Ms. Khedkar did not commit a violent or heinous crime and stating that the consequences of the investigation will likely hinder her employment. The Bench also indicated its view that the Delhi High Court should have granted bail earlier.

While the Delhi Police counsel argued against bail, citing Ms. Khedkar’s alleged lack of cooperation and the seriousness of the accusations, the Supreme Court ultimately ruled in favor of granting anticipatory bail, signaling a need for a balanced approach in addressing allegations of quota misuse, ensuring fairness, and upholding the principles of justice. The case continues to raise important questions about the implementation and oversight of reservation policies within the Indian civil services.

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