Puja Khedkar, a trainee IAS officer embroiled in controversy over alleged misuse of quotas and abuse of power, is facing fresh scrutiny after a discrepancy emerged in her age on official documents.
Khedkar, a 34-year-old IAS officer of the Maharashtra cadre, cleared the UPSC civil service exam under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) categories, as she declared herself to be from the non-creamy layer and reportedly cited her visual and mental disabilities.
However, Khedkar did not undergo tests to prove her PwBD status. The UPSC had challenged her selection before the Central Appellate Tribunal (CAT), which ruled against her in February 2023.
Khedkar's CAT application forms from 2020 and 2023, seeking relaxation of the upper age limit for employment of persons with benchmark disability for herself, show only a one-year age difference, despite a three-year gap in between.
Additionally, Khedkar used slightly different names on the applications - Khedkar Puja Deeliprao in 2020 and Puja Manorama Dilip Khedkar in 2023.
This is significant, as UPSC candidates in the general category are allowed up to 6 attempts until the age of 32. For candidates in the OBC category, the limit is 9 attempts until they turn 35.
Khedkar is under investigation for allegedly misrepresenting herself under the PwBD and OBC categories to qualify for the civil service exam. She is also accused of misusing her position during her posting in Pune.
Pune Police are currently examining the authenticity of medical certificates submitted by Khedkar, one of which claimed visual impairment under the PwBD provision.
Amid these allegations, a doctor's certificate Khedkar submitted for admission to a Pune medical college in 2007 has surfaced, which declares her "medically fit" with no apparent disability.
"There was no mention of any disability, whether physical or mental, in the medical fitness certificate submitted by Puja Khedkar," Dr Arvind Bhore, director of the Kashibai Navale Medical College in Pune, told news agency PTI.
Khedkar has maintained her innocence, stating that the truth will come out and that a government committee will make the final decision on her case.
“I will testify before the committee. I think whatever decision the committee will take should be acceptable to all... Neither I nor you (media) or the public can decide,” she said.
The committee, established last week by the central government, has been tasked with verifying Khedkar's candidacy within two weeks.
Khedkar's comments came amid separate efforts by Pune Police to locate her parents in connection with a criminal case.
