After Khedkar, ex-IAS officer under fire for disability claim
What's the story
Amid claims that trainee Indian Administrative Services officer Pooja Khedkar allegedly submitted fake disability certificates to secure her position, questions are now being raised about another former bureaucrat's selection under the disability criteria. Abhishek Singh—2011-batch IAS officer who resigned last year to pursue an acting career has been criticized after his dance and gym videos surfaced on social media—leading to calls for greater transparency in bureaucratic selection processes.
Response
Singh responds to allegations
In response to the allegations, Singh claimed he is being targeted due to his support for reservations. "Since I started supporting reservations, anti-reservationists have targeted me," Singh said on X. "They question my caste and my job. Let me tell you, I have achieved everything through hard work and courage, not through reservation...I believe that reservation in government jobs should be according to the population, and I will work towards that," he added.
Twitter Post
Read Singh's post here
वैसे तो मुझे किसी आलोचना से कोई फ़र्क़ नहीं पड़ता, पर ये मेरे जीवन काल में पहली बार है जब मैं अपने आलोचकों को जवाब दे रहा हूँ। और वो इसलिए क्योंकि मेरे हज़ारो समर्थक मुझसे कह रहे हैं कि आप जवाब दें नहीं तो हमारा मनोबल टूट जाएगा।अतः ये मेरा नैतिक कर्तव्य है कि मैं सच्चाई सामने… pic.twitter.com/e1rwB3H02R
— Abhishek Singh (@Abhishek_asitis) July 13, 2024
Controversy
Trainee IAS officer accused of abusing power
Trainee IAS officer Khedkar has courted controversy by using a siren on her private Audi and requesting privileges like a separate house and car, typically unavailable to junior officers. However, the 2023-batch IAS officer now faces more severe allegations. In an affidavit submitted to the Union Public Service Commission, Khedkar claimed to be visually and mentally impaired but refused to undergo the mandatory medical tests required to verify these claims.
Investigation underway
Centre begins probe into allegations against Khedkar
The Centre has set up a one-member committee to investigate the allegations against Khedkar. According to reports, if found guilty, she could be dismissed from her position and may also face criminal charges for hiding facts and misrepresentation. On Thursday, in her first interaction with the media after allegations against her surfaced the office said that she is "not authorized" to discuss the matter.