On Monday, IAS trainee officer Puja Khedkar expressed confidence that the 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.
Speaking to reporters, Puja Khedkar condemned what she viewed as a biased media trial, firmly denying any fraudulent actions in her exam process. “Our Indian Constitution is based on the principle ‘innocent until proven guilty,’ so being judged guilty by a media trial is wrong,” Khedkar stated in Washim.
The IAS probationer is accused of misrepresentation under physical disabilities and OBC categories in her civil services application.
“I will testify before the committee. I believe that whatever decision the committee makes 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 a sudden transfer to Washim district. Subsequently, she faced further allegations of securing her IAS position by applying under the OBC category with an annual income of less than ₹8 lakh, and under the visually impaired category, while submitting a certificate for mental illness.
Her father, Dilip Khedkar, a former Maharashtra government employee who contested the Lok Sabha elections and 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 tenure at a Pune college, confirmed the hospital’s director on Monday.
Puja Khedkar declined to comment on the controversy. “My role here as a probationer is to work and learn, and that is what I am focusing on. I cannot comment on that matter,” she said.
“The government committee experts will decide. Neither I, nor the media, nor the public can make that decision,” Khedkar said.
“Whenever the committee’s decision is made, it will be public and open to scrutiny. But at this moment, I do not have the right to disclose details about the ongoing investigation,” she added.
When asked if she is being targeted, Khedkar responded, “Everybody knows what is going on.” She reiterated that the Indian Constitution is based on the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.
On Monday, IAS trainee officer Puja Khedkar expressed confidence that the 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.
Speaking to reporters, Puja Khedkar condemned what she viewed as a biased media trial, firmly denying any fraudulent actions in her exam process. “Our Indian Constitution is based on the principle ‘innocent until proven guilty,’ so being judged guilty by a media trial is wrong,” Khedkar stated in Washim.
The IAS probationer is accused of misrepresentation under physical disabilities and OBC categories in her civil services application.
“I will testify before the committee. I believe that whatever decision the committee makes 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 a sudden transfer to Washim district. Subsequently, she faced further allegations of securing her IAS position by applying under the OBC category with an annual income of less than ₹8 lakh, and under the visually impaired category, while submitting a certificate for mental illness.
Her father, Dilip Khedkar, a former Maharashtra government employee who contested the Lok Sabha elections and 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 tenure at a Pune college, confirmed the hospital’s director on Monday.
Puja Khedkar declined to comment on the controversy. “My role here as a probationer is to work and learn, and that is what I am focusing on. I cannot comment on that matter,” she said.
“The government committee experts will decide. Neither I, nor the media, nor the public can make that decision,” Khedkar said.
“Whenever the committee’s decision is made, it will be public and open to scrutiny. But at this moment, I do not have the right to disclose details about the ongoing investigation,” she added.
When asked if she is being targeted, Khedkar responded, “Everybody knows what is going on.” She reiterated that the Indian Constitution is based on the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.
