Trainee IAS Puja Khedkar obtained disability certificate to get into civil services by using…: Report

Puja Khedkar, the probationary IAS officer, secured a disability certificate using a fake address and a ration card.

Khedkar submitted an address of 'Plot No. 53, Dehu-Alandi, Talwade' to the Yashwantrao Chavan Memorial (YCM) Hospital, claiming it was her residence in Pimpri-Chinchwad. However, it has been confirmed that this address belongs to Thermoverita Engineering Private Limited, a defunct company, and is not a residential place.

Documents also revealed that a fake ration card was made using this company address, which Khedkar then used to get the disability certificate, claiming locomotor disability. The certificate, issued on August 24, 2022, revealed that she had a seven per cent disability in the knee.

Moreover, an Audi car has been registered in the name of Thermoverita company. As per the tax collection department of the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipality, Rs 2.7 lakh is pending on this company for the last three years.

Puja Khedkar, a 2023-batch IAS officer, is under scanner for allegedly forging a disability certificate for the UPSC recruitment. Her OBC non-creamy-layer status is also under lens after allegations of misuse of power.

Also, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in Pune submitted a comprehensive report on the properties owned by Dilip Khedkar, father of Puja Khedkar, to the state headquarters on Tuesday.

Dilip Khedkar, who served as the Director of the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) till his retirement in 2020, is also accused of gathering disproportionate assets during his tenure. 

Besides allegations of forged certificates, Puja Khedkar is accused of misuse of power to demand special privileges and threatening police officials.

She was transferred from Pune to Washim as a supernumerary assistant collector after Pune District Collector Suhas Diwase submitted a report about her behaviour. She allegedly demanded a separate office, official residence, a car, and support staff before joining. Probationary officers don’t receive these perks.

However, Khedkar rubbished off the charges, stating that she was a victim of misinformation and "fake news". She also complained of harassment against the Pune district collector.