New Delhi, March 18 (H.S.): The Supreme Court has extended the interim relief granted to the dismissed trainee IAS officer Pooja Khedkar until further orders. A bench headed by Justice B.V. Nagarathna has scheduled the next hearing of the case for April 15.

During the hearing today, the court asked the Delhi police why they were not completing their investigation when Pooja Khedkar stated in an affidavit that she was willing to cooperate with the inquiry. To this, the Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju, representing the Delhi police, stated that custodial interrogation was necessary in this case. The court then asked what the difference was between normal questioning and custodial interrogation. The court noted that it was essential to find out where Pooja Khedkar obtained the fake certificates from and that there was no need for custodial interrogation for that; she is not the mastermind behind obtaining the fake certificates.

On January 15, the court issued notices to the Delhi government and the UPSC. Pooja Khedkar has challenged the Delhi High Court's order rejecting her anticipatory bail plea in the Supreme Court. The Delhi High Court rejected her anticipatory bail plea on December 23, stating that, at first glance, the allegations of fraud against the UPSC appeared to be correct. The High Court mentioned that Pooja Khedkar was not entitled to benefits in the disabled and OBC categories. Pooja Khedkar has found herself embroiled in controversy over illegal demands during her probation period. Collector Suhas Diwase had filed a complaint against Khedkar. Following the escalation of the controversy, the Maharashtra government took action against Pooja Khedkar, suspending her training and ordering her to report to the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) in Mussoorie, but she did not reach the academy in the stipulated time. The UPSC has also dismissed Pooja Khedkar.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar