NEW DELHI: The selection process for the UPSC exams has been embroiled in a fresh controversy as Abhishek Singh, a former IAS officer of 2011 batch who resigned last year to pursue acting, is facing allegations that he used a fake disability certificate to qualify for the exams.
This development follows similar allegations against IAS training officer Pooja Khedkar.
Singh, who qualified in the disabled category, has faced criticism after videos of him dancing and working out at the gym were leaked on social media, casting doubt on his eligibility to compete in the motor disability category.
Twitter users have questioned his eligibility, citing the criteria for the PwBD-3 category, which includes conditions like cerebral palsy, leprosy cure, dwarfism, acid attack victims and muscular dystrophy.
Reacting to the allegations, Singh took to social media to deny the claims about his father’s influence and his caste.
Highlighting his journey from a poor family to becoming an IAS officer, he said, “You said I had an advantage because my father was an IPS officer. In fact, my father came from a very poor family and became a PPS officer and rose to IPS. He has three children and I have a sister and a brother. They also prepared for UPSC but were not selected. Besides this, seven of my cousins have attempted and many are trying but none have been selected yet. I am the only one in my family who has been selected for IAS.”
Singh also announced his intention to insist on population-based quota in government jobs and criticised those opposed to the quota policy, saying, “Wherever government resources are spent in this country, it should be done fairly. Quota in government jobs should be done as per population. Now I have started a movement and demanded removal of this 50 per cent cap and quota as per population and we will get it done as per the Constitution.”
Meanwhile, IAS training officer Pooja Khedkar is also under investigation for allegedly using fake disability and OBC certificates to secure a position.
A committee headed by Transport Secretary Manoj Dwivedi will verify the authenticity of her documents and determine whether proper vetting was carried out.
Khedkar reportedly did not undergo the mandatory medical test at AIIMS in Delhi to confirm her disability and instead submitted a medical certificate from a private hospital, further raising suspicions over her case.