Scrutiny Intensifies Over Disability Claims of IAS Officers

In light of recent allegations against trainee IAS officer Puja Khedkar for submitting false disability certificates to secure her position, questions have also emerged regarding another former bureaucrat’s selection under the disability criteria. Abhishek Singh, a 2011 batch IAS officer who resigned last year to pursue a career in acting, faces criticism after videos of him dancing and working out went viral on social media.

Critics have questioned the legitimacy of Singh’s claim to a locomotor disability, which he used to avail concessions in the UPSC selection process. The viral videos prompted calls for greater transparency and accountability in the bureaucratic selection process.

Responding to the allegations, Singh defended himself on social media, attributing the criticism to his support for reservations. “Although I am not affected by any criticism, this is the first time I am answering my critics because my supporters asked me to. Since I started supporting reservations, anti-reservationists have targeted me. They question my caste and my job. Let me tell you, I have achieved everything through hard work and courage, not through reservation,” Singh stated in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. He claimed that since he began advocating for reservations, he has been targeted by anti-reservationists who question his caste and career achievements.

“I have done social work through my initiatives like United by Blood and the No-Shame Movement without government help. I believe that reservation in government jobs should be according to the population, and I will work towards that. If you think you have talent, stop trying for government jobs and excel in business, sports, or acting. There is no reservation there,” Singh emphasized that his accomplishments were a result of hard work and perseverance, not reservations. “I move on the strength of my talent, confidence, and courage, not in anyone’s favour.” He highlighted his social work initiatives, such as United by Blood and the No-Shame Movement, which he said were achieved without government assistance. Singh also reiterated his belief that government job reservations should reflect the population’s composition and encouraged individuals to excel in business, sports, or acting, where there are no reservations.

In another incident Praful Desai, an IAS officer from Telangana, has been accused of forging a disability certificate to avail a reservation in the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) civil service examination.

Desai, who currently serves as Additional Collector of Karimnagar, is accused of misusing the Orthopedically Handicapped (OH) quota for the UPSC exam. His rank of 532 in the 2019 UPSC exam has come under scrutiny following the surfacing of photos showing him engaging in various physical activities, such as horse-riding and cycling.

The allegations gained traction after pictures of Desai participating in adventure sports were shared on social media. Despite the accusations, Desai has firmly denied any wrongdoing. He clarified that while his one leg is disabled, it does not prevent him from participating in physical activities, many of which were part of his training program.

India Today obtained Desai’s medical report from Belagavi district hospital, where a doctor certified that Desai has a locomotor disability and 45 percent disability in his left leg due to polio. Desai explained, “I have polio in one of my legs because of which I cannot run but can walk and cycle.”

Photos from Desai’s Instagram account, now widely circulated, show him engaging in various activities. One photo features Desai taking a selfie with friends at a tennis court in Hyderabad, while another shows him cycling at the Forest Research Institute in Dehradun. The most viral image captures Desai cycling 30 km from Kempty Falls. Additional photos show him rafting in Rishikesh and horseback riding.

Critics on social media have questioned the legitimacy of Desai’s disability claim. One user sarcastically commented, “UPSC has some sort of magical power. An IAS officer who was orthopedically challenged before the selection can now be seen rafting in the river, cycling, and trekking for miles. AIIMS is hyped. UPSC is the real hospital.” However, Desai clarified, his disability allows him to use one leg however he cannot be active for long. He further clarified that his participation in activities like cycling and trekking was part of his training program and that he could pedal with one leg while using the other for support. Regarding the horseback riding photo, Desai stated that the exercise was part of his training, with an instructor present to assist him. He also mentioned that he had to make his social media accounts private due to the misuse of his pictures and the derogatory messages he received.

In a separate controversy, Puja Khedkar has faced backlash for using a siren on her private Audi and demanding privileges not typically afforded to junior officers. The 2023-batch IAS officer is now under more severe scrutiny for allegedly claiming false disabilities in an affidavit submitted to the UPSC. Khedkar declared herself visually and mentally impaired but refused to undergo mandatory medical tests to verify her claims.

The Centre has formed a one-member committee to investigate the allegations against Khedkar. Sources indicate that if found guilty, Khedkar could face dismissal and potential criminal charges for hiding facts and misrepresentation.

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