No fault in disability certificate issued to Puja Khedkar: PCMC chief

The civic body chief said the certificate was issued following a proper clinical assessment by a senior doctor.

IAS probationer Puja Khedkar. (Instagram/ dr_pujamdk_ias)

Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Commissioner Shekhar Singh on Monday denied that he found fault with the seven per cent disability certificate issued by the civic-run YCM hospital (YCMH) to controversial IAS probationer Puja Khedkar.

The civic body chief said the certificate was issued following a proper clinical assessment by a senior doctor.

“There is no truth in the speculation that I have ordered another inquiry… I have only raised a query and asked the internal inquiry committee to reply to it. The media reports in this connection are wrong,” the PCMC told this paper.

When asked whether the certificate was issued by a trainee doctor, the PCMC said, “This is wrong information as well that is being spread. The certificate was issued by a senior resident medical officer. The doctor is a Master’s in orthopaedics.”

Singh said that a seven per cent locomotor disability certificate will not be accepted by any government authority when the benchmark is 40 per cent. “You can combine two certificates of the same institute but can’t combine two certificates issued by two institutes,” he said. Puja Khedkar was also issued a disability certificate by Ahmednagar civil hospital.

The YCMH had conducted the internal inquiry, following directions from the district collectorate.

Civic officials said Khedkar had submitted a ration card copy which carried the address of a commercial property in Talawade. “She had claimed that she was a resident of Pimpri-Chinchwad,” officials said.

Manoj Dattatrye More

Manoj Dattatrye More is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, having been with the publication since 1992. Based in Pune, he is a veteran journalist with a 33-year career that spans editorial desk work, investigative reporting, and political analysis. Professional Legacy Experience: He spent his first 16 years on the editorial desk before moving into active field reporting. He has written over 20,000 stories, including more than 10,000 bylined articles. Impact Journalism: He is widely respected for "campaign-style" reporting that leads to tangible social change. Road Safety: His decade-long campaign regarding the dangerous state of the Pune-Mumbai highway in Khadki resulted in a ₹23 crore reconstruction project in 2006, which dramatically reduced fatalities. Environmental Protection: His reports against tree cutting on the Pune-Mumbai and Pune-Nashik highways saved approximately 2,000 trees. Anti-Corruption: During the COVID-19 pandemic, he exposed a scam where doctors were being asked to pay bribes for government jobs, resulting in them being hired without payment. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Manoj More's recent work focuses heavily on the shifting political landscape of Maharashtra and civic governance in the Pimpri-Chinchwad area: 1. Political Shifts & Alliances "Ajit Pawar's NCP continues domination in Pune, wins 10 of 17 local bodies" (Dec 21, 2025): A major report on the local self-government election results, detailing the NCP’s stronghold in Baramati, Indapur, and Lonavala. "BJP ropes in 13 ex-corporators, deals major blow to NCP" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on a significant political defection in Pimpri-Chinchwad as the BJP gears up for civic polls. "Congress opts for solo BMC run as alliance talks with Sena (UBT) collapse" (Dec 17, 2025): Covering the breakdown of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) talks for the Mumbai civic elections. "NCP(SP)'s Rahul Kalate, Sena (UBT) leader Sanjog Waghere set to join BJP" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing high-profile party-hopping ahead of the municipal elections. 2. Civic & Administrative Accountability "PCMC draws ire for issuing tenders worth Rs 250 crore just before poll code" (Dec 17, 2025): An investigative piece on the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation’s last-minute spending spree before election restrictions. "93 killed in 76 accidents in five years: Bypass service roads in Pune remain undeveloped for 18 yrs" (Nov 16, 2025): A critical look at the long-delayed infrastructure projects contributing to fatalities on Pune’s bypass roads. 3. Social & Labor Issues "As state says TCS has laid off 376 employees: FITE flags figures, say nearly 2,500 were forced to quit" (Dec 11, 2025): Investigating conflicting reports regarding IT sector layoffs in Maharashtra. "Maharashtra govt move to 'downgrade' Aadhaar cards" (Nov 30, 2025): Reporting on the state’s decision to require additional documents alongside Aadhaar to combat identity misuse. Signature Beat Manoj More is the definitive voice on Pimpri-Chinchwad, an industrial hub he has covered for three decades. His reporting is characterized by its aggressive stance against local "gondaism" (thuggery) and a relentless focus on civic infrastructure—choked drains, garbage management, and public transport. X (Twitter): @manojmore91982 ... Read More

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