Trainee IAS Officer Faces Scrutiny Over Disability Claims

Trainee IAS officer Puja Khedkar faces allegations of falsifying disability claims to secure her position. Her rejected disability certificate application and family controversies have sparked an investigation, raising questions about civil service selection integrity and disability quota misuse.

Puja Khedkar, a 2023-batch trainee IAS officer from Maharashtra's Ahmednagar, is under research for allegedly falsifying incapacity claims to stable her role. The 34-12 months-old officer is accused of misrepresenting her mental and visual conditions to gain an advantage in the tremendously competitive Civil Services exam.

Recent revelations show that Khedkar's try to acquire a incapacity certificates from Pune's Aundh Hospital in August 2022 become rejected. The hospital said it turned into "now not viable" to difficulty this kind of certificates after examining her. This rejection followed a preceding unsuccessful try, although she later acquired a certificate from a health facility in Pipri bringing up knee instability.

Concerns had been raised approximately Khedkar's repeated refusals to go through obligatory medical tests throughout the selection manner. She reportedly skipped or in part attended six scheduled examinations between April and September 2022, mentioning diverse reasons which include COVID-19.

After her appointment as Assistant Collector for Pune district, Khedkar allegedly misused her position to obtain unauthorized perks, such as a siren for her personal Audi and professional authorities stickers.

The controversy has extended to Khedkar's circle of relatives. Her mother, Manorama Khedkar, a village sarpanch, faces prices below the Arms Act for brandishing a pistol in a viral video. Her father, Dilip Khedkar, a retired country authorities officer, is implicated in supporting stable her position and perks. Both parents are presently lacking and sought by way of police.

Khedkar, now serving as a Supernumerary Assistant Collector in Washim, has evaded commenting on the allegations, bringing up authorities rules. A one-member panel is investigating the matter, with the possibility of termination if she is determined responsible.

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The case has sparked debate about the integrity of the civil services choice technique and the misuse of disability quotas.