Pune: Citizens with disability have voiced their anger and are demanding a swift investigation into IAS officer Puja Khedkar, who is accused of fraudulently obtaining her position by submitting a fake disability certificate.
They have urged Dr. Pravin Puri, the State Commissioner for Disabled Welfare, to ensure strict action against Khedkar and any responsible officials if the allegations prove true.
Reports suggest that Khedkar achieved a higher rank in the IAS examination by falsely claiming to have a visual impairment. Accusations against her include causing disruptions at the District Collector's office, occupying senior officials' offices, and using a private vehicle with a amber beacon.
The Prime Minister's Office has taken serious note of these allegations and requested a report from the District Collector.
Representatives of disabled organizations, including Rafik Khan, Dharmendra Satav, Surekha Dhawale, Sunanda Bamne, Vishnupant Gundal, and Supriya Lokhande, attended the meeting with Dr. Puri.
Khan emphasized the lifelong struggle faced by disabled individuals in education and employment, stating that false certificates deprive genuinely disabled individuals of their rightful claims, constituting a serious social crime.
Akash Kumbhar called for an immediate investigation into the prevalence of such fraudulent activities. Dr. Puri assured them that an inquiry would be conducted.
Meanwhile, search has intensified for missing medical records in Puja Khedkar's Disability Certificate Case. RTI Activist and AAP Leader Vijay Kumbhar has claimed that file relating to the medical records of Puja Khedkar in the Nagar District Hospital is missing for two days.
"Suspicions about the legitimacy of these certificates arise as non-disabled individuals, including IAS officers' children, have allegedly qualified from the disabled category. Khedkar's case has brought national attention. The Social Welfare Department has her certificate, but the hospital hasn't found her required medical records. Dr. Sanjay Ghogare confirmed the ongoing search," Kumbhar has tweeted on social media platform X.
