How Puja Khedkar 2018 'accident story' got her disability certificate despite physiotherapist's 'no'

The list of controversies of trainee IAS officer Puja Khedkar continues to increase. In the latest revelation, she has been issued 7 per cent locomotor disability certificate by a civic hospital near Pune, despite the physiotherapy department at the hospital reporting no disability.    

Puja Khedkar, who has been facing scrutiny over allegations of manipulating disability and OBC certificates to get an entry into the civil services, was issued a “7 per cent locomotor disability certificate” by Yashwantrao Chavan Memorial (YCM) Hospital in August 2022, a report by India Today said.

The report said that the certificate was issued to her noting a 7 per cent locomotor disability in her left knee.

Why Pune hospital issued disability certificate to Puja Khedkar

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As per the report, Puja Khedkar applied for her disability certificate at the YCM hospital claiming that she had a minor accident in 2018 that led to an injury to her left knee.

The documents, however, showed no medical records from that year were checked and also no MRI scan was performed during her medical examination, the report said.

Puja Khedkar used fake ID to secure disability certificate

The India Today report further said that Puja Khedkar visited YCM Hospital on August 23, 2022, to secure a disability certificate and she used what was later found to be false address proof from a fake ration card.

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She was issued a locomotor disability certificate the following day which stated that she had 7 per cent instability in her left knee due to an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear from a minor accident in 2018.

When Puja Khedkar visited the physiotherapy department, the findings did not match the initial diagnosis. The physiotherapists found no systemic disability in her knee and did not confirm the 7 per cent instability noted by the resident doctor, the report said.

Probe launched

The Pune Collector’s Office has begun a probe into the matter following directives from the ‘DIVYANG’ Welfare Commissionerate.  

Trouble mounts for Puja Khedkar

Meanwhile, a report by The Times of India quoted sources as saying that the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has issued a show-cause notice to Puja Khedkar asking her to explain by August 2 her position on the various allegations against her.

“The show-cause was sent on July 26 by email as well as to her postal address, following inquiries by various agencies. Khedkar has been given seven days to respond to the notice,” the ToI report quoted DoPT officials privy to the developments as saying.

Puja Khedkar anticipatory bail plea hearing

A court in Delhi will hear the anticipatory bail plea of Puja Khedkar on Wednesday, 31 July.

Additional Sessions Judge Devender Kumar Jangala, who was scheduled to hear the matter on Tuesday (July 30) adjourned the hearing after the public prosecutor (PP) sought time.

The PP told the court that a new public prosecutor has been appointed in the matter who will put forward arguments.

Puja Khedkar has moved the court, claiming that she is “innocent” and has committed “no offence at all”.

In her bail plea, Puja Khedkar claims that she had not forged any documents, all of which were duly authenticated and certified by the relevant authorities, ensuring that there was no possibility of fraud.

With inputs from agencies