Trainee IAS officer Puja Khedkar has been in the news since last week for allegedly using fraudulent means to clear her civil services exam, including allegedly misrepresenting herself under the physical disabilities and OBC categories. The 34-year-old Maharashtra cadre officer is also accused of misusing power and privileges during her posting in Pune.
Now documents revealed she was aged one year despite the 3-year gap between 2020 and 2023. It was revealed in details provided by the junior IAS officer to the Central Appellate Tribunal in 2020 and again in 2023, India Today reported. It further stated that IAS Puja used different names on 2020 and 2023 CAT applications.
The 2023 batch officer currently posted in Washim district, had submitted to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) multiple medical certificates, one of them indicating visual impairment, under the Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) provision.
Pune police will conduct an inquiry into the authenticity of medical certificates submitted by the probationary IAS officer. The UPSC had challenged her selection before the Central Appellate Tribunal (CAT), which ruled against her in February 2023.
READ | IAS Puja Khedkar's training put on hold amid fake certificate row
It is to be noted that UPSC candidates in the general category are allowed up to 6 attempts until the age of 32. However, for candidates in the OBC category, the limit is 9 attempts until they turn 35.
Moreover, it has also emerged that the controversial junior IAS officer had submitted a fitness certificate while securing admission to a private medical college in 2007. Last week, the Centre set up a single-member committee "to verify the candidature" of Khedkar and submit a report in two weeks.
Khedkar on Monday sidestepped questions related to the ongoing probe against her, saying the truth will eventually prevail. The Pune police have also been searching for her parents in a separate criminal case.
