The Supreme Court's interim order dated June 30 stated, "Issue notice, returnable on 24.08.2026. In the meantime, there shall be an order of stay on further proceedings qua the petitioner arising out of (the criminal case)."The Supreme Court on Tuesday stayed criminal proceedings against Ketki Vyas, a Class-I Gujarat Administrative Service officer and former resident additional collector of Anand, in the 2023 alleged case of spy-camera blackmail. Vyas was accused of secretly filming then Anand collector D.S. Gadhvi’s private moments and using the footage to force him into clearing official files.A Supreme Court bench of Justice MM Sundresh and Justice Sheel Nagu issued notice on Vyas’s special leave petition, filed through advocate Aum Kotwal, challenging the Gujarat High Court order that rejected the application seeking her discharge from the case. The SC ordered that, pending further consideration, the criminal trial against her would remain halted.The Supreme Court’s interim order dated June 30 stated, “Issue notice, returnable on 24.08.2026. In the meantime, there shall be an order of stay on further proceedings qua the petitioner arising out of (the criminal case).”The SC also condoned the delay in filing the petition and allowed Vyas’s applications seeking exemption from filing the certified copy of the impugned judgment and official translations, besides permitting additional documents to be placed on record.Vyas was arrested, along with deputy mamlatdar Jayesh Patel and advocate Haresh Chavda, in August 2023 in a case that sent shockwaves through Gujarat’s bureaucracy.According to investigators, the trio procured and installed hidden cameras in the Anand collector’s chamber to secretly record Gadhvi’s meetings with a woman visitor and later used the footage to compel him to clear disputed land files and other official matters.The prosecution alleged that Patel carried a laptop containing the footage to Gadhvi’s office and threatened to release the videos and initiate criminal proceedings through the woman unless the files were cleared. The charge sheet further alleged that copies of the videos were stored on flash drives and later shared with media organisations.Story continues below this adPolice had claimed to have recovered burnt hard disks from a canal, CCTV footage allegedly showing attempts to destroy evidence, WhatsApp chats and records linking specific land applications to the alleged demands.The Gujarat government suspended Vyas following her arrest. Earlier this month, the Anti-Corruption Bureau also booked her under the Prevention of Corruption Act after allegedly finding disproportionate assets worth more than Rs 3.56 crore, or nearly 69 per cent above her known sources of income.Before the Supreme Court, Vyas argued that she was a victim of a “frivolous criminal case” and described herself as a “senior lady official” who was harassed due to her refusal to the advancement offered by her superior.Her petition contended that the prosecution was selective and motivated, alleging that the then collector and the woman involved had been turned into witnesses while action was pursued only against her. The plea described the investigation as a case of “picking and choosing” accused persons and a “colourable exercise of power”.Story continues below this adVyas further relied on her annual performance records and argued that Gadhvi himself had previously commended her work and integrity before later becoming a key prosecution witness. The petition described the subsequent allegations as an “about-face” and a “pre-emptive strike to shield himself”.The SLP sought to “quash and set aside the FIR, chargesheet, and all consequential proceedings arising therefrom” and requested the apex court to “stay all proceedings arising out of the impugned FIR and chargesheet, including proceedings pending before the learned trial court, insofar as they relate to the present petitioner” besides seeking an order of “no coercive steps” against her.The Gujarat High Court had earlier refused to interfere in the matter, holding that there was a “strong prima facie case against the present petitioner” and that there was “sufficient material on record to prosecute her for the said offence”.The trial before the Anand court will now remain in the case against Vyas until the Supreme Court decides the petition. The SC will hear the matter on August 24.Aditi Raja is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express, stationed in Vadodara, Gujarat, with over 20 years in the field. She has been reporting from the region of Central Gujarat and Narmada district for this newspaper since 2013, which establishes her as a highly Authoritative and Trustworthy source on regional politics, administration, and critical socio-economic and environmental issues. Expertise: Core Authority & Specialization: Her reporting is characterized by a comprehensive grasp of the complex factors shaping Central Gujarat, which comprises a vast tribal population, including: Politics and Administration: In-depth analysis of dynamics within factions of political parties and how it affects the affairs in the region, visits of national leaders making prominent statements, and government policy decisions impacting the population on ground. Crucial Regional Projects: She consistently reports on the socio-economic and political impact of infrastructure projects in the region, especially the Statue of Unity, the Sardar Sarovar Project on the Narmada River, the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail bullet train project as well as the National Highway infrastructure. Social Justice and Human Rights: Her reporting offers deep coverage of sensitive human-interest topics, including gender, crime, and tribal issues. Her reports cover legal proceedings from various district courts as well as the Gujarat High Court (e.g., the Bilkis Bano case remission, POCSO court orders, Public Interest Litigations), the plight of tribal communities, and broader social conflicts (e.g., Kheda flogging case). Local Impact & Disaster Reporting: Excels in documenting the immediate impact of events on communities, such as the political and civic fallout of the Vadodara floods, the subsequent public anger, and the long-delayed river redevelopment projects, Harni Boat Tragedy, Air India crash, bringing out a blend of stories from the investigations as well as human emotions. Special Interest Beat: She tracks incidents concerning Non-Resident Gujaratis (NRIs) including crime and legal battles abroad, issues of illegal immigration and deportations, as well as social events connecting the local Gujarati experience to the global diaspora. ... Read MoreStay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on InstagramTags:supreme court