IAS Trainee Puja Khedkar Faces Potential Termination and Criminal Charges Over Alleged False Claims

Probationary IAS officer Puja Khedkar is currently under scrutiny for potential termination and criminal charges due to allegations of falsifying disability and OBC status claims, which facilitated her entry into the civil service.

A solitary panel formed by the Centre, led by Department of Personnel & Training’s additional secretary Manoj Dwivedi, has commenced an investigation into the authenticity of the documents backing Khedkar’s disability and OBC credentials.

The panel’s primary focus includes validating whether the issuing authority conducted thorough vetting processes and determining why Khedkar failed to undergo crucial medical evaluations at AIIMS Delhi to confirm her disability, despite being classified as a ‘Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD)’ for her IAS selection.

Sources reveal that the panel will present its findings to the DoPT, which will subsequently forward the report and recommendations to the Maharashtra government, owing to Khedkar’s cadre allocation in Maharashtra. If found guilty of manipulating her OBC and disability records, Khedkar faces the risk of termination by the state and potential criminal charges for forgery and deceit.

To verify the accuracy of Khedkar’s OBC credentials, the DoPT panel is contemplating involving the social justice ministry. Discrepancies emerged when her father, a former bureaucrat and recent Lok Sabha election contender, disclosed assets exceeding Rs 40 crore, including properties valued in crores registered in Khedkar’s name.

Additionally, the panel intends to collaborate with experts from AIIMS Delhi to assess whether the visual and mental impairments claimed by Khedkar align with the mandatory criteria for government employment, as reported by the Times of India.

A senior government official emphasized that such cases are not uncommon, citing instances of aspirants fabricating disability claims to secure positions in the PwBD category annually. These individuals typically circumvent the obligatory AIIMS medical examination and contest the process in the Central Administrative Tribunal, ultimately failing to secure appointments post non-compliance with the evaluation, as per TOI.