Trainee IAS officer Puja Khedkar, who is caught in a controversy related to claims she made in her UPSC application and alleged misuse of power and privileges, had submitted a fitness certificate while securing admission to a private medical college in 2007, the institute’s director said on Monday.
The certificate submitted by Khedkar had no mention of any disability, whether physical or mental. Dr. Arvind Bhore, director of the Kashibai Navale Medical College in Pune, said, “There was no mention of any disability, whether physical or mental, in the medical fitness certificate submitted by Puja Khedkar when she joined our college in 2007.”
Speaking to ABP Majha, Bhore said, “She had submitted a certificate showing she is from the NT (Nomadic Tribes) category and from the Vanjari community. She had submitted a caste certificate and a non-creamy layer certificate." As per the leaving certificate of her previous college submitted by Puja Khedkar, her date of birth is January 16, 1990, he said.
The 34-year-old IAS officer faces accusations of using fraudulent means to clear her civil services exam, including allegedly misrepresenting herself under the physical disabilities and OBC categories.
All documents presented by her to secure her candidature in the civil services examination and then for selection in the service will be re-examined by a single-member committee constituted by the Centre, news agency PTI reported, citing an official.
Pune police have issued a show-cause notice to her mother, Manorama, over the alleged misuse of a licensed gun. Pune Commissioner of Police Amitesh Kumar issued a show-cause notice to Manorama Khedkar, who is the sarpanch of Ahmednagar’s Bhalgaon village.
Manorama was seen brandishing a pistol at a farmer during a heated dispute over a plot of land in a viral video clip reportedly from 2023 that surfaced recently.