IAS probationary officer Puja Khedkar breaks silence on fake certificates case: ‘Proving guilt in…’ | Latest News India

Facing allegations of misuse of quota and disability provisions of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) to get government jobs, Indian Administrative Service (IAS) probationary officer Puja Khedkar on Monday said truth would prevail after she made a submission before the central committee investigating the charges.

“I will be testifying before the commission. I think whatever decision the commission takes should be acceptable to all,” Khedkar told reporters in Washim. “My job here as an intern is to work and learn and that is what I am doing. I cannot comment on that,” she said.

Read: ‘Accused were absconding, their phones were switched off’: Police after arrest of IAS officer Puja Khedkar’s parents

Puja Khedkar came under media spotlight after a controversy erupted over her demands for a separate office space, an official vehicle and other demands. It was later alleged that Khedkar, the daughter of a retired bureaucrat, had misused the OBC quota and the Persons with Disabilities (PwBD) provision to get a government job.

His father, Dilip Khedkar, had contested the Lok Sabha elections and had declared assets worth ₹40 crore in his probe affidavit, raising questions over Puja’s non-creamy layer certificate.

Read: IAS officer Puja Khedkar used OBC quota for MBBS, had no disability: college principal

The Centre has constituted a one-member committee to review the documents submitted by Puja to ensure her candidacy for the civil services examination and subsequently the IAS selection.

“It is the experts of the government committee who will decide. Neither I, nor you (the media), nor the public can decide,” Puja said.

“When the commission’s decision is made, it will be public and can be reviewed. But at this point, I have no right to talk to you about the ongoing investigation,” she added.

Read: Pune police seize Audi car of controversial IAS trainee Puja Khedkar

The Indian Constitution is based on the principle that you are innocent until proven guilty, she said.

“So proving my guilt through a media trial is a mistake on everyone’s part,” she added.

“Whatever my proposal is, I will present it before the committee and the truth will come out,” Khedkar said. Puja was recently transferred from Pune to Washim after allegations of high-handedness during her probationary period in the Pune district office. A controversy erupted over her claims of having a separate office space, an official vehicle and other demands.