Amidst ongoing scrutiny, probationary IAS officer Puja Khedkar is facing allegations regarding her admission to the MBBS program in 2007, where she reportedly submitted a non-creamy layer OBC certificate. This revelation comes from Arvind Bhore, Director of Shrimati Kashibai Navale Medical College and General Hospital, who confirmed that Khedkar secured her seat through the Association of Management of Unaided Private Medical and Dental Colleges of Maharashtra (AMUPDMC) entrance exam, scoring 146 out of 200.
Verification of Credentials Called into Question
Bhore clarified that although Khedkar also attempted the CET exams, her superior AMUPDMC score earned her the admission. He stated, “She provided a non-creamy layer certificate of the NT-3 category of the Vanjari community at the time of admission, and all documents were verified as authentic.”
However, concerns have been raised by Pune RTI activist Vijay Kumbhar, who claims Khedkar does not qualify for the OBC non-creamy layer. Kumbhar pointed out that her father’s reported assets exceed Rs 40 crore, while the eligibility criteria for the OBC non-creamy layer stipulate that family income should not exceed Rs 8 lakh per annum. Khedkar’s father, Dilip Khedkar, reported an estimated wealth of Rs 40 crore and an annual income of Rs 49 lakh in his Lok Sabha election affidavit.
Kumbhar emphasized that this raises questions about how Puja Khedkar could be classified under the OBC non-creamy layer category. A thorough investigation is warranted regarding her IAS appointment in this context.
The scrutiny extends beyond her admission credentials, as Khedkar has been accused of misusing her authority, allegedly submitting fraudulent disability and caste certificates to qualify for the civil services exam. Additional allegations include the unauthorized use of a vehicle with a beacon light and demands for privileges typically not granted to trainee officers.