‘Proving me guilty by media trial’: IAS officer Puja Khedkar lashes out amid fake disability, OBC certificate probe

IAS trainee officer Puja Khedkar on Monday asserted that truth will prevail as she prepares to present her case to the central committee investigating allegations of misusing disability provisions and Other Backward Class (OBC) quotas to secure her civil service position.

Responding to reporters, Puja Khedkar criticised what she perceived as a prejudicial media trial, vehemently denying accusations of fraudulent means in her exam process. "Our Indian Constitution is based on the fact 'innocent until proven guilty' so proving me guilty by media trial is wrong..." Puja Khedkar told the media in Washim.

The IAS probationer faces claims of misrepresentation under physical disabilities and OBC categories in her civil services application.

“I will testify before the committee. I think whatever decision the committee will take should be acceptable to all,” Khedkar said in Washim.

Puja Khedkar recently sparked controversy when she reportedly requested a separate cabin and staff during her posting in Pune, followed by an abrupt transfer to Washim district. Subsequently, she faced additional allegations of securing her IAS position by applying under the OBC category with an annual income of less than ₹8 lakh, as well as under the visually impaired category, while submitting a certificate for mental illness.

Her father and former Maharashtra government employee Dilip Khedkar, who contested the Lok Sabha elections and had declared property worth ₹40 crore in his poll affidavit, told a Marathi news channel on Sunday that she indeed belongs to the non-creamy layer.

However, no mental illness certificate was submitted by Puja Khedkar during her MBBS stint at a Pune college, the hospital's director confirmed on Monday.

Puja Khedkar refused to comment on the controversy. “My job here as a probationer is to work and learn and that is what I am doing. I cannot make any comments on that,” she said.

“The experts of the government (committee) will decide. Neither I nor you (media) or the public can decide,” Puja Khedkar said.

“Whenever the decision of the committee comes, it will be public and open to scrutiny. But right now I don’t have any right to tell you about the investigation going on,” she said.

Asked if she is being targeted, Khedkar said, “Everybody knows what is going on.” The Indian Constitution is based on the fact that you are innocent till proven guilty, she said.

“So proving me guilty by media trial is wrong on everybody’s part,” she added. “Whatever my submission is, I will give it in front of the committee and the truth will come out,” Khedkar said.