After Pooja Khedkar, a former IAS officer under fire over disability claims: Who is Abhishek Singh?

In the wake of allegations that trainee IAS officer Pooja Khedkar presented fake impairment certificates to get her position, concerns have been raised regarding the selection of another former bureaucrat in the disability category.

Former IAS officer Abhishek Singh is under fire after his dance and gym videos went viral on social media.

Here’s all we know about him.

About Abhishek Singh

Abhishek Singh is the 2011 batch IAS officer who resigned in September 2023 to become an actor. According to The Times of India sources, the central government accepted his resignation on February 29 2024.

Singh, who also contested unsuccessfully elections this year from Jaunpur, has had an active social media presence.

In November 2022, he was in the news after he was removed as a general observer for Gujarat assembly polls by the Election Commission for indulging in a “publicity stunt” by posting pictures of himself with his official vehicle on Instagram.

In a tweet, Singh had clarified, “Though I believe there’s nothing wrong in this post. A public servant, in a car bought by public’s money, reporting for public duty, with public officials, communicating it to the public. It is neither publicity nor a stunt.”

The report quoted a senior official as saying that he had not joined the services after returning from Gujarat. Singh was served a notice by the department of personnel to which he did not respond.

According to DNA, in 2015, Singh was given a deputation in Delhi Government for three years, which was extended in 2018 for two years. He was sent back to his parent cadre, Uttar Pradesh in 2020 due to his medical leave. He didn’t join the duty in UP for a long time.

As per TOI, Singh was suspended by the state government in February 2022 for going on leave without notice.

Singh also tried his hands on acting and appeared in Netflix’s acclaimed series Delhi Crime, short film Chaar Pandrah, and B Praak’s music video Dil Tod Ke.

Hailing from Uttar Pradesh’s Jaunpur, his wife, Durga Shakti Nagpal, is the District Magistrate of Banda district.

Also read: Fake certificates, private car with beacon, and more: The many controversies of trainee IAS officer Pooja Khedkar

The latest controversy

Abhishek Singh claimed to have a locomotor disability to avail concessions in the UPSC selection process.

The disorder means “disability of the bones, joints or muscles leading to substantial restriction of the movement of the limbs or any form of cerebral palsy,” according to the Department of Persons with Disabilities.

Several users have questioned his position in the disabled category and called for greater transparency and accountability in the bureaucratic selection process.

A netizen claimed that Singh had been dismissed by the Uttar Pradesh government, while another one mentioned his attempt to re-join the IAS after not succeeding in becoming a Member of Parliament.

Responding to the allegations, Singh said he is being targeted for supporting reservations.

“Although I am not affected by any criticism, this is the first time I am answering my critics because my supporters asked me to. Since I started supporting reservations, anti-reservationists have targeted me. They question my caste and my job. Let me tell you, I have achieved everything through hard work and courage, not through reservation,” he said on X.

“My father came from a poor background and became an IPS officer. I am the only one in my family to get selected for IAS. No domicile certificate is needed in UPSC, so stop the fake propaganda. I do what I feel is right and will continue to do so. Art and social service are my interests. I will continue working hard until I succeed.”

“I have done social work through my initiatives like United by Blood and the No-Shame Movement without government help. I believe that reservation in government jobs should be according to the population, and I will work towards that. If you think you have talent, stop trying for government jobs and excel in business, sports, or acting. There is no reservation there,” he added.

“I move on the strength of my talent, confidence, and courage, not in anyone’s favour.”

Also read: Trainee IAS officer Pooja Khedkar under scanner for OBC non-creamy layer status: What is it?

Pooja Khedkar ‘fake certificate’ controversy

Pooja Khedkar, a probationary Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer in Pune, was transferred to Washim in central Maharashtra on Tuesday.

The development came after a controversy erupted over her alleged misuse of power as a civil servant.

According to an official order, Khedkar will complete the remaining term of her training in Washim until July 30, 2025, according to Hindustan Times.

Pooja Khedkar was transferred from Pune to Washim after her ‘exploits’ came to light.

As per News18, after joining as a probationary officer in Pune, Khedkar allegedly made several demands, including a VIP number plate for an Audi car, placing a red beacon on the vehicle, and a ‘Government of Maharashtra’ sticker on her private luxury sedan.

Apart from these, she repeatedly demanded a separate cabin, residential quarters, letterheads, and additional staff before joining duty as a trainee on June 3.

Khedkar’s appointment in the civil service was initially denied on February 2, 2022, according to Mint.

In response to this failure, she filed an affidavit in court, asserting that she was visually impaired, mentally ill and of the Other Backward Class (OBC).

She had reportedly refused six times, to undergo a mandatory medical test to confirm her disabilities, as per News18.

In April 2022, she was asked to report to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi for verification of her disability certificate but she skipped it, citing COVID-19 infection, the official said. Two appointments for the following month and those in July and August were also skipped. In September, she only half-attended a sixth appointment, skipping an MRI test to assess vision loss.

The Union Public Service Commission, which recruits officers for civil services, subsequently challenged her selection, leading the tribunal to deny her relief.

Last year, she introduced her affidavit under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, and was ultimately being appointed, despite scoring a relatively low all-India rank of 841 in the uber-competitive Civil Services Exam.

With inputs from agencies