The controversy over selection of trainee IAS officer Puja Khedkar using allegedly fake disability certificate has perhaps opened the pandora box. Now people are raising suspicion over selection process of UPSC bringing up case of 2011-batch IAS Abhishek Singh, who has resigned last year to pursue acting.
Singh, who is also facing allegations of using a fake disability certificate to qualify for the exam, has been criticised after videos surfaced on social media showing him dancing and working out in a gym, raising doubts about his eligibility under the locomotor disability (LD) category. He rose to fame after launching music video with former porn star Sunny Leone.
People on social media is criticising selection of Abhishek Singh under PwBD-3 category, which includes conditions such as cerebral palsy, leprosy-cured, dwarfism, acid attack victims, and muscular dystrophy. They are questioning how a person falling under this category is pumping iron gum and gyrating in music videos.
Abhishek Singh sends a strong response
Perturbed by the growing criticism on social media, Singh refuted claims about his father's influence and his own caste.
He said that he is the first one in the family to have become an IAS officer through sheer hard work.
“You said that my father was an IPS officer so I got the advantage. Let me tell you, my father came from a very poor background and became a PPS officer, was promoted to IPS. He has 3 children, i.e. I have a younger sister and a younger brother. They also prepared for UPSC but could not get selected, apart from this, my 7 more cousins tried, many are trying, but no one has been selected yet. I am the only one in my entire family to get selected in IAS”.
Puja Khedkar's parents not contactable
Meanwhile, a panel led by DoPT additional secretary Manoj Dwivedi has been set up to examine the authenticity of Puja Khedkar's documents and determine whether proper vetting was conducted. Her parents, who were booked by Pune police, are in the run. They have switched off the phone and the police have not been able to contact them.
The BuckStopper, run by a group of seasoned journalists, holds the powerful accountable. The buck stops with them, as they cannot shrug off their official responsibilities.
