Disability Certificate of Trainee IAS Officer Puja Khedkar Under Scrutiny

Ahmednagar, 13th July 2024: Questions have arisen regarding the legitimacy of the disability certificate of trainee IAS officer Puja Khedkar, a topic of significant attention both statewide and nationally in recent days. Newly surfaced information reveals that the controversial certificate was issued by the District Government Hospital of Ahmednagar.

According to the latest records, Puja received a visually impaired certificate from the district government hospital in 2018 and a mentally ill certificate in 2020. A combined certificate for both disabilities was awarded in 2021, sanctioned by the medical boards of that period, as confirmed by District Surgeon Dr. Sanjay Ghogare.

Puja’s father, Dilip Khedkar, a retired government officer, is originally from Bhalgaon (Taluka Pathardi) but has resided in Pune for several years. Puja secured her position as an IAS officer through the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) examination using the disability certificate. Recently, she faced disciplinary action for illegal activities, including unauthorized use of a red light on a private vehicle, displaying a “Government of Maharashtra” board, and misappropriating an Additional Collector’s ante-chamber.

Alongside her disability certificate, Pune submitted a Non-Creamy Layer (OBC category) Certificate to qualify for the UPSC Civil Services Exam, further complicating her eligibility. Critics question how she could qualify as an OBC non-creamy layer candidate when her father’s wealth reportedly stands at Rs 40 crore. This significant discrepancy has prompted doubts about her eligibility under OBC non-creamy layer criteria, which has an income limit of Rs 8 lakhs.

Adding to the controversy, allegations have surfaced that Puja used fraudulent certificates to secure her UPSC position, claiming blindness and mental illness. Despite being summoned for medical examinations six times at AIIMS Delhi, she did not appear, instead submitting external medical reports, further fueling the controversy.

The state government transferred trainee IAS officer Puj Khedkar following her demands for a car, bungalow, cabin, and staff. Subsequently, additional irregularities involving her and her family have come to light. Allegations claim she secured her position through fraudulent certificates. Inconsistencies were found in both her disability certificates and her OBC non-creamy layer certificate. Her father’s financial disclosures, revealed during his contestation in the Ahmednagar Lok Sabha constituency, indicate an income far exceeding the limit for OBC non-creamy layer eligibility, raising further questions about the legitimacy of her certification.