Centre forms panel to probe disability claims made by trainee IAS officer

The 2023-batch trainee IAS officer is at the centre of massive allegations of impropriety and misuse of her position as a bureaucrat.

The single-member committee will submit its report in two weeks.

"The central government has constituted a single-member committee, chaired by a senior officer of the rank of Additional Secretary to government of India to verify the candidature claims and other details of Ms. Puja Manorma Dilip Khedkar, a candidate of Civil Services Examination-2022 and earlier CSEs. The committee will submit its report in 2 weeks," said the Department of Personnel and Training in a statement.

Khedkar has submitted an affidavit to the Union Public Service Commission in which she claimed to be visually and mentally impaired to avail of selection process concessions.

She had refused, six times, to undergo a mandatory medical test to confirm her disabilities.

It is unclear how, or why, she was appointed if she declined to appear for the examination.

Unconfirmed reports say the first test had been scheduled at Delhi's All India Institute of Medical Sciences for April 2022. She skipped this claiming to have tested positive for COVID-19.

She also skipped two appointments for the following months in July and August and half-attended a sixth one in September. However, she did not appear for an MRI test to assess vision loss.

Instead of attending these tests, Khedkar submitted an MRI report from an external centre, which the UPSC rejected.

The Commission subsequently challenged her selection and, in February 2023, a tribunal ruled against her.

Despite this, her MRI certificate was later accepted and she managed to have her civil service appointment confirmed.

There are also questions over Khedkar claiming an OBC (Other Backward Classes) status.

The falsified statements and allowances gained allowed Khedkar to pass the uber-competitive Civil Services Exam despite scoring a relatively low all-India rank of 841.

Khedkar was transferred from Pune to Washim after her 'exploits' - including the use of a siren on her private vehicle, an Audi luxury sedan - came to light.

Apart from using a siren on her car, VIP number plates, and a sticker saying Government of Maharashtra, Khedkar had also been found using Pune Additional Collector Ajay More's office while he was away. She reportedly removed his nameplate and furniture and even demanded letterheads.

"Government rules do not allow me to speak on this matter. So sorry, I cannot speak," said Khedkar responding to the media's queries this morning.

RTI activist Vijay Kumbhar said that the election affidavit of Dilip Khedkar, father of Puja Khedkar, showed his wealth is worth Rs 40 crore. Given her father’s wealth, Khedkar’s eligibility for OBC non-creamy layer status is under question.

Dilip Khedkar had contested the 2024 Lok Sabha polls on a Vanchit Bahujan Aaghadi ticket.

"How can such income fall into the non-creamy layer? She has admitted to being mentally ill and a person with multiple disabilities. However, she skipped medical examinations several times. How did she qualify for IAS? These are big questions," the activist said.

The details of the same have emerged after a controversy arose when the Maharashtra government transferred Khedkar from Pune to Washim due to complaints of power misuse.

This move followed a letter from Pune Collector Dr. Suhas Diwase to the Chief Secretary. Khedkar will now serve as a supernumerary assistant collector in Washim.