Pune: Puja Khedkar, a controversial IAS trainee, has been found using a fraudulent address to obtain a disability certificate from Yashwantrao Chavan Memorial (YCM) Hospital.
The address she provided belongs to a defunct industrial company in Talawade, Pimpri-Chinchwad, and not a residential area. Khedkar applied for the certificate by presenting a fake ration card and false address proof.
This revelation came to light when journalists visited the given address and discovered that it was an old industrial property registered under the name of Khedkar's mother, Manorama Khedkar, and not a residential location. The company, Thermoverita Engineering Private Limited, has been closed for some time.
In August 2022, YCM Hospital issued a certificate declaring Khedkar 7 per cent disabled, signed by Dean Dr. Rajendra Wable and Assistant Health Medical Officer Dr. Abhaychandra Dadewar. Khedkar’s attempts to get the certificate from Aundh General Hospital were rejected, but YCM Hospital granted her an examination slot.
The fraudulent activity was exposed when it was found that Khedkar used a fake ration card to substantiate her claim. Not only a fake disability certificate, but an Audi car has also been registered under the name of Thermoverita company.
According to the tax collection department of Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation, this company has arrears of Rs 2.7 lakhs for the past three years.
Moreover, the Anti-Corruption Department in Pune submitted a detailed report on Puja Khedkar's father, Dilip Khedkar's properties to the state headquarters on Tuesday evening.
Dilip Khedkar was the director of the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board until 2020. He is accused of accumulating disproportionate assets during his tenure. Further investigation and subsequent action are expected in this matter.
