Amid controversy surrounding trainee IAS officer Puja Khedkar’s alleged misuse of Other Backward Class (OBC) and Person with Benchmark Disabilities (PwD) certificates, another former bureaucrat’s selection under disability criteria came under scanner after his dance videos went viral.

The 2011 batch IAS, Abhishek Singh, who resigned last year to become an actor, claimed to have a locomotor disability to avail concessions in the UPSC selection process.

Recently, his dance and gym videos went viral on social media, with several users calling for greater transparency and accountability in the bureaucratic selection process in his comment sections.

Responding to the allegations, Singh claimed he was being targeted for supporting reservations and was not affected by the criticism.

“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,” he said in a post on X (formally Twitter).

वैसे तो मुझे किसी आलोचना से कोई फ़र्क़ नहीं पड़ता, पर ये मेरे जीवन काल में पहली बार है जब मैं अपने आलोचकों को जवाब दे रहा हूँ। और वो इसलिए क्योंकि मेरे हज़ारो समर्थक मुझसे कह रहे हैं कि आप जवाब दें नहीं तो हमारा मनोबल टूट जाएगा।अतः ये मेरा नैतिक कर्तव्य है कि मैं सच्चाई सामने… pic.twitter.com/e1rwB3H02R

— Abhishek Singh (@Abhishek_asitis) July 13, 2024

He stressed that he had been doing social work through his initiatives like United by Blood and the No-Shame Movement without any help from the government. 

“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…I move on the strength of my talent, confidence, and courage, not in anyone’s favour,” he added.

Puja Khedkar Case Update

Probationary IAS officer Pooja Khedkar recently came under the spotlight after kicking up a controversy surrounding her demands such as a separate cabin and staff during her posting in Pune. She allegedly misused the disability and Other Backward Class (OBC) quota to secure a position in the Indian Administrative Service (IAS).

Khedkar allegedly used a red beacon light on the Audi car and also got ‘Maharashtra Government’ written on it without permission. Following the controversy, she was transferred from Pune to Washim district before the completion of her training.

Pune police on Sunday confiscated the Audi car used by Khedkar by allegedly installing a red beacon light on it illegally. The Pune Regional Transport Office (RTO) on Thursday issued a notice to a city-based private company, which is the registered owner of the Audi car that 34-year-old Khedkar used during her posting in the city. Shivane village in Haveli taluka was mentioned as the address of the registered user, as per officials. 

A jammer was put on the car and barricades were installed around it, he said. As many as 21 challans with total charges of Rs 27,000 were issued in the past against the Audi car, which was registered at the Pune RTO on June 27, 2012, for alleged traffic violations. The fine has been paid, as per officials.  

As per section 108 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules (CMVR) 1989, the state government can grant permission for the use of red or amber beacon lights on official vehicles to VIPs, VVIPs, and government officials.