Puja Khedkar Cleared of Wrongdoing in Disability Certificate Case
An internal investigation by Yashwantrao Chavan Memorial (YCM) Hospital has confirmed that the seven percent locomotor disability certificate issued to IAS probationer Puja Khedkar in August 2022 was done according to rules and without any wrongdoing. The probe was initiated after allegations surfaced that Khedkar had used fraudulent means to clear the UPSC examination.
The hospital’s dean, Dr. Rajendra Wable, stated, “The internal report confirmed that the certificate was issued following a thorough assessment by our physiotherapy and orthopaedic departments and the medical test conducted was as per rules and there was no foul play found. However, it has been clarified that the certificate would not provide any benefits in education or employment.”
Responding to allegations that Puja Khedkar had used the address of a private company to obtain the medical certificate, Dr. Wable said, “Verifying the address doesn’t come under the office work of the hospital. We just have to see if the person belongs to the Pimpari Chinchwad area or not and that was checked.”
The district collectorate had requested the hospital to investigate potential wrongdoing and file a police complaint if necessary. The hospital’s findings have cleared it of any wrongdoing in issuing the certificate.
Mother in Custody Over Land Dispute
Earlier on Monday, the Pune court sent Manorama Khedkar, the mother of IAS probationer Puja Khedkar, to 14 days of judicial custody in a case relating to threatening a farmer. She allegedly threatened a person with a gun over a land dispute in June last year. Manorama was arrested from a lodge in Raigad district, where she was hiding, and produced before a judicial magistrate. The prosecution alleged that Manorama, along with her husband and three others, threatened the complainant with a gun and added Section 307, stating that she put a gun to the complainant’s head and was about to pull the trigger.
Doubts Revealed
Puja Khedkar -: Puja Khedkar is a person who is training to become an IAS officer, which means she is learning to work for the government.
Disability Certificate -: A disability certificate is a document that says a person has a physical or mental condition that makes some activities harder for them.
Yashwantrao Chavan Memorial Hospital -: This is a hospital in India where doctors and staff help people who are sick or need medical care.
Locomotor Disability -: Locomotor disability means having trouble moving parts of your body, like your arms or legs.
IAS Probationer -: An IAS probationer is someone who is training to become an Indian Administrative Service officer, a person who helps run the government.
UPSC Exam -: The UPSC exam is a big test in India that people take if they want to work in important government jobs.
Judicial Custody -: Judicial custody means being kept in jail by the police while they investigate a crime.
Land Dispute -: A land dispute is a disagreement over who owns or can use a piece of land.
