India
District hospital issued 2 disability certificates to IAS trainee Puja Khedkar: Surgeon | India News – Times of India
MONEY: Civil Hospital in Ahmednagar District officials confirmed on Saturday that the hospital had twice “received individuals with certificates for disability“twice to IAS officer probationary period Puja Khedkar – once in 2018 and again in 2021. The certificates were issued by two separate committees.
District surgeon Dr Sanjay Ghogare told TOI on Saturday that a committee had issued the first certificate of disability to Khedkar on April 25, 2018, for visual impairment, and another committee had issued the second certificate on January 19, 2021, for multiple disabilities. He said the second certificate included both visual impairment and mental illness (depression).
He said panels of two or three members were appointed to verify the disability status of the applicant.
Khedkar had submitted a PwBD (Persons with Benchmark Disability) certificate while appearing for her UPSC exam. Disability activists, including Rafiq Khan, sought an inquiry into the certificates issued to her.
Khedkar’s father had earlier said that she had all the relevant documents and that they would be submitted to the authorities investigating the matter. Repeated attempts by TOI to contact the Khedkar family were in vain.
Ghogare said: “We have been asked to submit a detailed report on the certificates Ahmednagar collector S Salimath by Tuesday. Copies of the certificate, test reports and other research reports would be in the files.”
Ahmednagar District Collector Salimath said he had asked the district civil hospital to verify whether the documents had been provided to Khedkar. “A detailed report is expected from the hospital next week,” he said.
Khedkar first courted controversy for allegedly using a beacon and a “Govt of Maharashtra” badge on her car while stationed in Pune. She was shifted to Washim on July 8. The Centre on Thursday constituted a one-member committee comprising an additional secretary to the government of India to verify Khedkar’s candidacy claims and other details.
Maharashtra Disability Commissioner Pravin Kundlik Puri had on Friday directed the Pune Commissioner of Police (CP) and the Pune District Collector in writing to investigate the authenticity of Khedkar’s disability certificates on priority basis and file a case if they were found to be fake. Puri on Saturday said he would inquire with the Ahmednagar Collector about the documents.
Pune Joint CP Ranjan Kumar Sharma told TOI: “We have received the application and are inquiring about it. It is likely that the certificate(s) was issued by Ahmednagar.”
District surgeon Dr Sanjay Ghogare told TOI on Saturday that a committee had issued the first certificate of disability to Khedkar on April 25, 2018, for visual impairment, and another committee had issued the second certificate on January 19, 2021, for multiple disabilities. He said the second certificate included both visual impairment and mental illness (depression).
He said panels of two or three members were appointed to verify the disability status of the applicant.
Khedkar had submitted a PwBD (Persons with Benchmark Disability) certificate while appearing for her UPSC exam. Disability activists, including Rafiq Khan, sought an inquiry into the certificates issued to her.
Khedkar’s father had earlier said that she had all the relevant documents and that they would be submitted to the authorities investigating the matter. Repeated attempts by TOI to contact the Khedkar family were in vain.
Controversial IAS intern Pooja Khedkar’s fake interview goes viral | Watch
Ghogare said: “We have been asked to submit a detailed report on the certificates Ahmednagar collector S Salimath by Tuesday. Copies of the certificate, test reports and other research reports would be in the files.”
Ahmednagar District Collector Salimath said he had asked the district civil hospital to verify whether the documents had been provided to Khedkar. “A detailed report is expected from the hospital next week,” he said.
Khedkar first courted controversy for allegedly using a beacon and a “Govt of Maharashtra” badge on her car while stationed in Pune. She was shifted to Washim on July 8. The Centre on Thursday constituted a one-member committee comprising an additional secretary to the government of India to verify Khedkar’s candidacy claims and other details.
Maharashtra Disability Commissioner Pravin Kundlik Puri had on Friday directed the Pune Commissioner of Police (CP) and the Pune District Collector in writing to investigate the authenticity of Khedkar’s disability certificates on priority basis and file a case if they were found to be fake. Puri on Saturday said he would inquire with the Ahmednagar Collector about the documents.
Pune Joint CP Ranjan Kumar Sharma told TOI: “We have received the application and are inquiring about it. It is likely that the certificate(s) was issued by Ahmednagar.”
