On July 16th, an official said that the Pune police will conduct an investigation to determine the legitimacy of medical certificates filed by Puja Khedkar, a probationary IAS officer who has been charged with presenting inaccurate information concerning her health status while applying under physically disabled category.
Ms. Khedkar, the 2023-batch officer currently posted in Washim district, had submitted to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) multiple medical certificates, one of them indicating visual impairment, under the Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) provision.
This 34-year-old Maharastra cadre officer has been charged with faking her civil service exam using fraudulent means like identity theft in both physical disabilities and OBC groups. Also, she allegedly abused power and privilege when she was posted in Pune.
A letter has been written by The Office of Commissioner For Persons With Disabilities to Pune Police and District Collectorate requesting for verification of Khedkar’s certificates.
“We have received a letter from Office of Commissioner For Persons With Disabilities. They have asked us to check the authenticity of certificates submitted by Puja Khedkar. We will verify the facts about these certificates, from where they were obtained, which doctor or hospitals certified them will also be scanned,” a senior police official said.
Moreover, it became known that this controversial young IAS officer even submitted a fitness certificate during her admission to a private medical college in 2007.
Last week, the Centre constituted a one-man panel “to verify the candidature” of Ms. Khedkar and submit its report within two weeks.
According to government sources, an additional secretary-rank officer would be conducting an investigation into claims made regarding eligibility and personal information about this particular civil servant.
Ms. Khedkar refused to discuss ongoing investigations against her on Monday saying eventually truth will prevail.
Pune Police are also looking for her parents because of another criminal case pending against them.
Manorama Khedkar’s mother is among seven people including Puja’s parents currently facing FIRs filed after a video clip surfaced that showed Manorama, a village sarpanch, threatening some individuals with a gun over land dispute.
The Pune police on Sunday seized Puja Khedkar’s luxury car which she had allegedly fitted with an unauthorized red beacon light.
