In a developing controversy, Right to Information (RTI) activist Vijay Kumbhar has filed a petition with the district collector, demanding criminal action against staff members at Yashwantrao Chavan Memorial Hospital (YCMH). The petition accuses the hospital staff of issuing a fraudulent disability certificate to IAS officer Puja Khedkar, calling it an “organized crime” and alleging that similar incidents have previously occurred at the hospital.
The petition submitted by Kumbhar outlines several discrepancies in the process through which IAS officer Puja Khedkar allegedly obtained her disability certificate. It highlights that Khedkar provided two different addresses when applying for the certificates: an Aadhaar card address from Aundh for the Aundh District Hospital authorities and Talawade details using a ration card as address proof at YCMH. This inconsistency raises questions about the legitimacy of the application process.
Adding to the irregularities, the petition notes that Khedkar did not provide photo identity proof, which is a mandatory requirement for obtaining a disability certificate. Despite this, the hospital authorities allegedly overlooked these discrepancies, including a ration card that inaccurately listed Khedkar’s age as three years old.
The petition further states that in Khedkar’s application to the Aundh Hospital, she claimed to be undergoing treatment at Sassoon General Hospital and BJ Medical College. Contradictorily, her application at YCMH mentioned that she had already completed treatment at their facility. The hospital authorities reportedly failed to verify these conflicting claims.
Furthermore, it is alleged that Khedkar previously obtained disability certificates in 2018 and 2020 from Ahmednagar District Hospital. However, her applications to both Aundh District Hospital and YCMH indicated that she had never received such a certificate before.
“By law, only one unique ID is generated for issuing a disability certificate, but she availed herself of the benefit of two IDs,” Kumbhar stated in the petition. “Despite the physiotherapist at YCMH giving a negative report, how did the hospital issue a disability certificate?”
In a related legal matter, Dilip Khedkar, the father of probationary IAS officer Puja Khedkar, was granted anticipatory bail by a Pune sessions court on Friday. This case involves allegations that he threatened farmers with a gun in a land dispute.
Manorama Khedkar, Puja’s mother, has been arrested in connection with the same case after a video went viral showing her brandishing a gun during an argument. The couple, along with five others, have been charged by Paud police under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Arms Act.
Advocate Sudhir Shah, representing Dilip Khedkar, noted that the court stated the charge of attempt to murder was directed at Manorama, not Dilip.
“The offences against Dilip are bailable in nature,” Shah explained. Additional sessions judge AN Mare granted the bail application on the condition that Dilip shall not contact witnesses, attempt to influence them, or fail to cooperate with the investigating agency.
The petition filed by Vijay Kumbhar is currently under review by the district collector, with the possibility of further legal action pending the outcome of the investigation. This case has sparked significant public interest, drawing attention to the procedures for issuing disability certificates and the responsibilities of medical professionals in verifying applicants’ claims.
