On Wednesday (17th July), an exclusive report by India Today revealed that IAS trainee Puja Khedkar used a fake address and fake ration card to obtain disability certificate.
Khedkar gave the Yashwantrao Chavan Memorial (YCM) Hospital her address as ‘Plot No. 53, Dehu-Alandi, Talwade’. She claimed that she lived in Pimpri-Chinchwad just to obtain the fake disability certificate. However, it has come to the fore that this address belongs to Thermoverita Engineering Private Limited, a defunct corporation, rather than a residential residence.
Documents also revealed that a forged ration card was manufactured using this corporate address, which Khedkar then used to get a disability certificate, alleging locomotor disability. The certificate, issued on August 24, 2022, claimed that she had a 7% disability in the knee.
Furthermore, an Audi vehicle has been registered in the name of the same Thermoverita firm. The Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipality’s tax collection department reports that this company owes Rs 2.7 lakh in taxes for the last three years.
Puja Khedkar, a 2023-batch IAS officer, is being investigated for allegedly fabricating a disability certificate for the UPSC recruitment. Her OBC non-creamy-layer designation has also been called into question following charges of abuse of authority.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday (16th July) evening, the Pune Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) filed a thorough report to the state headquarters on Dilip Khedkar’s property holdings. Dilip Khedkar is the father of Puja who also had issued threats to seniors of Puja earlier.
Dilip Khedkar, who served as Director of the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) until his retirement in 2020, has been accused of acquiring disproportionate assets during his tenure. Additional action is planned when higher-level officials look at the findings.
Puja Khedkar is facing serious charges, including abuse of power to demand special privileges and threatening police personnel, in addition to claims of forging certifications.
She was transferred from Pune to Washim as a supernumerary assistant collector after Pune District Collector Suhas Diwase filed a report with senior officials against her actions. She allegedly sought a separate office, official apartment, car, and support staff before joining. Probationary officers are not entitled to these benefits.
A committee constituted by the centre is looking into the charges against Khedkar. Meanwhile, on Tuesday, the government stopped the officer’s district training program and summoned her to the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration for “necessary action”.
Khedkar, on the other hand, denied the charges, alleging that she was the victim of “fake news” and misinformation. She also complained about harassment against the Pune district collector.
