![The certificate said that Puja was "medically fit" and that she did not have any significant vision or auditory disabilities. (Representational image: Unsplash)](http://media.assettype.com/medbound%2F2024-07%2Fcfe53bde-2ab5-4798-ac19-6962e7db03a2%2Flewis-keegan-XQaqV5qYcXg-unsplash.jpg?w=480&auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=max)
Puja Khedkar, a controversial probationary IAS officer, produced a medical certificate in 2007 to get admission to a private medical college. The certificate said that Puja was "medically fit" and that she did not have any significant vision or auditory disabilities.
Puja Khedkar is a subject of controversy due to her alleged misuse of power and her submission of falsified caste and disability certificates in order to be eligible for the civil service examination.
As per the fitness certificate, "She has not given any personal history of any disease incapacitating her to undergo the professional course. Also, on clinical examination, it has been found that she is medically fit to undergo the course."
Puja Khedkar submitted it to Kashibai Navle Medical College in 2007 when she sought admission for MBBS.
The fitness certificate included no mention of any physical or mental disabilities, according to Dr. Arvind Bhore, Director of the Institute.
Khedkar, a 2023-batch IAS officer from the Maharashtra cadre, stated in her affidavit to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) that she was visually impaired.
In 2022, she missed a maximum of six medical tests meant to confirm her disability. After eight months, she eventually submitted an MRI result from a different medical center, which was approved in 2023.
Khedkar made headlines when she was sent from Pune to Washington after she asked the Pune Collector's office for special treatment that was not proper for the role and made inappropriate demands.
She also used her own Audi, which had a VIP license plate and a beacon. She also had a "Maharashtra Government" board put on her personal vehicle.
A one-member committee has been constituted by the Center to investigate the situation.
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/ Priyanka Pandey/MSM)