Trainee IAS Officer Puja Khedkar, Who Used Siren On Private Car, Submitted Faked Mental Disability

Trainee IAS Officer Puja Khedkar faces fresh controversy after allegedly submitting fake disability and OBC certificates for the civil services exam.

Trainee IAS Officer Puja Khedkar, who recently faced transfer due to alleged misuse of privileges, now finds herself embroiled in a new controversy. The Maharashtra cadre officer, part of the 2023 batch, stands accused of submitting fraudulent disability and Other Backward Class (OBC) certificates to qualify for the civil services exam.

Following complaints about using a red-blue beacon light and VIP number plate on her private Audi, Khedkar was relocated from Pune to Washim. She will now serve as a Supernumerary Assistant Collector in Washim district for the remainder of her probation period, as per the transfer order.

The latest allegations suggest that Khedkar applied for the civil services exam under the OBC and visually impaired categories, supported by a mental illness certificate. Despite multiple requests to undergo necessary medical tests at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) to verify her disabilities, she reportedly missed six appointments, as reported by NDTV.

Khedkar achieved the 841st rank in the UPSC examinations. Her father, Dilip Khedkar, a former state government official who contested the recent Lok Sabha elections, declared assets worth Rs 40 crore in his poll affidavit.

Furthermore, reports submitted by Pune collector Suhas Diwse to the General Administration Department indicate that Khedkar had made several demands even before assuming duty on June 3, including a private cabin, car, living quarters, and a peon.

The controversy surrounding Khedkar underscores issues of integrity and adherence to eligibility criteria within the civil services, raising significant questions about the selection process and the responsibilities of public servants.