Training of Trainee IAS Officer Stopped: Investigation into Doctor Issuing Fake Disability and OBC Certificate

Trainee IAS officer Pooja Khedkar’s training has been suspended for a week. Pooja was supposed to join an internship in the Adivasi Development Project in Akola from July 15 to 19, but the district official of Washim has halted her participation. Pooja is accused of misusing the disability and OBC reservation quotas to secure selection in the Indian Administrative Service (UPSC). Her disability and OBC certificates will undergo police verification, and the issuing doctor will also be questioned.

Pooja Applied Twice for Disability Certificate, One Rejected

Trainee IAS officer Pooja Khedkar applied twice for a disability certificate. Her application to Pune’s Aundh Hospital was rejected. In response to her application, Aundh Hospital stated, “You applied for a disability certificate on August 23, 2022. The medical team for locomotor disability examined your claimed illness on October 11, 2022.”

“Based on the report, your claim was not considered valid. Issuing a disability certificate in your favor is not possible. Locomotor disability affects bones or muscles, causing movement difficulties in hands or legs.” Afterward, she applied for a disability certificate at Pimpri-Chinchwad Government Hospital, which was accepted.

Committee to Submit Report in Two Weeks

On July 11, a committee was formed by the center to examine the candidacy of the trainee IAS officer Pooja Khedkar, who is embroiled in controversies. The center stated that this investigation is being conducted by an officer of the rank of Additional Secretary. The aim is to verify the claims and other details of the 2023 batch officer Khedkar’s candidacy. The committee will submit its report in two weeks. When Pooja was asked about the committee formed for her investigation, she refused to comment. Pooja said, “I am not authorized to say anything on this matter. I will present my side to the committee.”

Pooja Told UPSC: I Am Mentally Disabled

In an affidavit to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), Pooja claimed that she is mentally disabled and has difficulty seeing. Despite the requirement for a medical test, she refused to take the medical test six times.

According to several media reports, Pooja’s first medical test was to be conducted at Delhi AIIMS in April 2022. She refused to participate, citing a positive COVID-19 status. However, it is unclear how and why Pooja was selected if she refused to take the test.

Pooja, Owner of Crores Worth of Property

Apart from irregularities in the UPSC selection, 34-year-old Pooja Khedkar is also in the limelight due to her crores worth of property. Pooja Khedkar owns property worth approximately 17-22 crores.

Before joining in 2023, Pooja had provided details of her immovable property to the government, stating that she had purchased two plots in Mahalunge, Pune, in 2015. She bought one plot for 42.25 lakhs and the other for 43.50 lakhs. Currently, the market value of both plots is between 6 to 8 crores.

In 2018, Pooja bought 4.74 hectares of land in the Dhanori area of Pune for 20.79 lakhs. Its current value is 3 to 4 crores. In 2020, she bought a 724 square feet flat in Khed for 44.90 lakhs, which is now worth 75 lakhs.

The Audi She Travels in Has a Pending Fine of 26 Thousand Rupees

According to media reports, there is a pending fine of 26 thousand rupees on the Audi car Pooja Khedkar travels in, which she used during her posting with red-blue lights and a Maharashtra government sticker.

Since 2022, the Audi has had 21 pending challans for traffic rule violations, such as overspeeding, breaking signals, and refusing to stop when asked by the police. The Audi is registered in the name of a private engineering company.

On Thursday (July 11), the RTO sent a notice to the engineering company. On Friday (July 12), an RTO officer stated that the Pune RTO has issued a notice to a Pune-based private limited company in whose name the Audi with registration number MH-12/AR-7000 is registered. The notice requires the company to immediately present the Audi for inspection at the RTO.