Trainee IAS officer Puja Khedkar, from the 2023 batch of the Maharashtra cadre, has sparked controversy following allegations that she falsified information about her mental and visual impairments to qualify for the Civil Services. Reports indicate that Khedkar attempted to obtain a third medical certificate from a hospital in Pune in August 2022, aiming to falsely claim a physical impairment under the locomotor disability category. However, her request was rejected by the hospital, citing that it was not feasible to issue such a certificate based on their examinations.
Khedkar had previously submitted two medical certificates to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), asserting visual impairment and mental illness. These certificates, issued by the Ahmednagar District Civil Hospital in 2018 and 2021 respectively, were instrumental in her qualification under the Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) category.
The controversy deepened as Khedkar reportedly missed several medical tests in 2022 but later submitted an MRI report from an external medical center, which was eventually accepted in 2023 after a prolonged delay. She has also faced scrutiny for allegedly seeking unauthorized privileges from the Pune Collector's office and using a private Audi car equipped with a beacon light and VIP number plate, along with displaying a 'Maharashtra government' board on her vehicle.
In response to the allegations, the Centre has formed a single-member committee to re-examine the documents submitted by Khedkar during the civil services examination and subsequent IAS selection process.
