The Yashwantrao Chavan Memorial (YCM) Hospital, located near Pune, recently conducted an internal inquiry into the issuance of a 7% musculoskeletal disability certificate to IAS candidate Puja Khedkar. The inquiry determined that the certificate was issued in accordance with established rules and regulations, and that there were no irregularities in its issuance.The Yashwantrao Chavan Memorial (YCM) Hospital, located near Pune, recently conducted an internal inquiry into the issuance of a 7% musculoskeletal disability certificate to IAS candidate Puja Khedkar. The inquiry determined that the certificate was issued in accordance with established rules and regulations, and that there were no irregularities in its issuance. Khedkar applied for the disability certificate in 2022, citing problems with her left knee joint. She underwent medical check-ups and was assessed by multiple departments within the hospital. Based on these assessments, the certificate was issued on August 24, 2022, indicating a 7% disability in the knee. Following allegations of fraud against Khedkar, the YCM Hospital was directed by the district administration office to investigate the matter and report any instances of malpractice. The hospital submitted an inquiry report on Monday, stating that the certificate was issued in accordance with the rules. According to the report, the certificate did not provide Khedkar with any specific advantages or benefits, either in education or employment. The hospital also clarified that no evidence of wrongdoing or malicious intent was found during the inquiry. Puja Khedkar’s case has garnered significant attention due to allegations of fraudulent activities, including misrepresenting her disability status and using multiple quota categories in the UPSC examination. Her probation as an IAS officer has been suspended, and she is facing further investigations and legal proceedings.
Poona: A municipal hospital near Pune, which had issued a seven per cent musculoskeletal disability certificate to IAS candidate Puja Khedkar, has found in its internal inquiry that the document was in accordance with the rules and there was no irregularity in its issuance, a senior official said on Wednesday. The Yashwantrao Chavan Memorial (YCM) hospital, run by the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) near Pune city, had issued the certificate to Khedkar in August 2022. Khedkar is accused of using fraudulent means, including allegedly manipulating the quota for physically disabled and Other Backward Classes (OBC) to crack the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) examination. The authenticity of several certificates she submitted to the UPSC is being probed.
She applied for a disability certificate for her left knee joint in 2022. She visited her for medical check-ups and was assessed by multiple departments. The certificate, issued on August 24, 2022, stated that she had seven percent disability in the knee, officials had said earlier. YCM dean Dr Rajendra Wable had sought a report from the hospital’s internal specialist department of orthopaedics and physiotherapy following a notice from the district administration office asking the municipality-run institution to investigate any malpractice in issuing the disability certificate to Khedkar. The district authorities also directed it to file a police complaint if any malpractice was found. It also directed that penal action be taken if there was any fraud. Dr Wable said, “Last week, we received this notice from the Pune Revenue Collector’s office, following which we sought a report from the hospital’s in-house orthopaedics and physiotherapy department. According to the report submitted on Monday, the certificate for seven per cent motor disability was issued to Khedkar as per the rules.” “But the certificate would not help in getting any facility, neither in education nor in jobs. That certificate is of no relevance,” he said. As per the inquiry, no one has been found guilty of any wrongdoing, Dr Wable added.
Khedkar had earlier submitted two certificates, issued by Ahmednagar District Civil Hospital in 2018 and 2021 for visual impairment and mental illness respectively, to the UPSC under the Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) category. The 2023-batch IAS officer, who was a probationary assistant collector in Pune district collectorate, was transferred from Pune to Washim earlier this month amid allegations that she had misrepresented herself under the physically challenged category. During her stay in Pune, she allegedly abused power and privileges by demanding benefits and facilities that she was not entitled to. She is also accused of taking advantage of the OBC and non-creamy layer quota in the UPSC. Following allegations against her, her probation was suspended and she was recalled to the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration in Mussoorie in Uttarakhand. Last week, UPSC took a series of actions, including registering a police case, against Khedkar for fraudulently misusing attempts in the civil services exam by forging her identity. The commission also issued a show-cause notice cancelling her candidature for the 2022 civil services exam and debarring her from future exams and selections. The Centre has directed the Pune police to inform it about the marital status of Khedkar’s parents amid allegations that she fraudulently availed the OBC non-creamy layer benefit in the UPSC exam by claiming that they were divorced.
