The Delhi High Court on Monday granted interim protection from arrest to controversial trainee IAS officer Pooja Khedkar, who is accused of identity fraud in relation to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) civil services examination.

The court’s decision comes in response to Khedkar’s plea challenging the district court’s refusal to grant her anticipatory bail.

During the hearing, the high court made it clear that, for now, there appears to be no immediate need for Khedkar’s custody.

“As of now, it does not seem to be at the moment that her immediate custody is required. Here when I saw the orders, the trial court was boggled from the offence which was committed but not as to why bail should or should not be granted,” the court said while hearing the matter.

The High Court further noted that, considering the facts of the case, Khedkar does not need to be arrested until the next hearing.

“In the facts of the present case, this court is of the opinion that the petitioner need not be arrested till the next date of hearing (August 21),” the court added.

The UPSC had filed an FIR against Ms Khedkar for alleging faking her identity to secure additional attempts in the highly competitive civil services examination.

Following the FIR, Ms Khedkar has moved the district court in Delhi to seek anticipatory bail. However, the district court denied her anticipatory bail, prompting Khedkar to seek relief from the High Court.

Khedkar, a probationary officer of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), has found herself embroiled in controversy amid allegations of misrepresentation regarding her “disabilities” and Other Backward Class status to gain undue privileges.

According to a report sent to the Maharashtra government by Pune District Collector Suhas Diwase, the probationary IAS officer demanded several perks during her conversation with the Pune Collector’s office, including a government vehicle, a cabin, and a house.

Following the controversy, Ms Khedkar was recalled to the Mussoorie-based Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration with her current training in Maharashtra’s Washim district put on hold.