New Delhi, India

The Union Public Service Commission had received an affidavit from Puja Khedkar, a Civil Services officer on probation, claiming to be mentally and visually challenged to receive concessions during the selection process.

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She later declined to take the necessary medical exam six times to establish her disability, said reports. Given that she declined to take the exam, it is unclear how or why she got appointed.

According to unconfirmed reports, the first test was scheduled for April 2022 at Delhi's All India Institute of Medical Sciences. She missed it, stating she had tested positive for COVID-19.

She also skipped two appointments in July and August, as well as in the following two months. She did not show up for an MRI exam to evaluate her visual loss, and she just partially attended the sixth exam in September.

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The Commission then disputed her appointment, and a panel decided against her in February 2023. Despite this, she was able to get her civil service post reaffirmed.

Khedkar's claim to the OBC, or Other Backward Classes, category is also being questioned.

It is alleged that the falsified statements and the allowances obtained through them enabled Khedkar to pass the highly competitive Civil Services Exam despite achieving a relatively low all-India rank of 841.

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After her 'exploits' were exposed—including using a siren on her private Audi luxury sedan—Khedkar was transferred from Pune to Washim. Pune Collector Suhas Divase had written to the Chief Secretary of the Maharashtra government to request Puja Khedkar's reassignment.

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"The 2023 batch IAS officer will serve the remaining period of her probation as Supernumerary Assistant Collector in Washim district," the order stated.

Other than having a 'Government of Maharashtra' sticker, VIP number plates, and a siren on her car, Khedkar was also found using the office when Ajay More, the Pune Additional Collector, was gone. It is said that she took down his nameplate, relocated his furniture, and even insisted on letterheads.

Junior officers are on a 24-month probationary period and are not eligible for any of these benefits. According to reports, her father, a retired administrative officer, pushed for her requests to be met. 

Khedkar, who hails from Ahmednagar, is an IAS officer from the 2023 batch.

(With inputs from agencies)