• Source:JND
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Amid an ongoing row over allegations of misuse of power and violation of rules of appointment by trainee IAS officer Pooja Khedkar, another IAS officer faces backlash over disability claim. After Pooja Khedkar and Abhishek Singh, an IAS officer from Telangana, Praful Desai, has been accused of forging a disability certificate to avail of a reservation in the UPSC selection. However, Desai has refuted the allegations and asserted that his disability does not prevent him from engaging in physical activities, which he says were part of his training. 

The controversy surrounding Desai erupted after pictures of him doing adventure sports, including horse riding, were shared on social media. Netizens accused Desai of misusing the Orthopedically Handicapped (OH) quota for his UPSC exam. 

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Taking to X, Desai dismissed the allegations and said, “For all those who are raising questions about my benchmark disability certificate and sharing false information. I have applied for the UPSC exam with a benchmark disability certificate issued by the competent authority.”

“Being physically challenged person and pushing my physical limits and trying to live a normal life like others is wrong? My request to all those netizens who is sharing fake information is be empathetic towards genuine people and their family before directly jumping into conclusions without thorough information and even now I’m ready to face any medical board examination,” he further added. 


Desai, who hails from a farmers’ family in Karnataka’s Belagavi district developed polio in his left leg at the age of five. Reacting to the allegations, he clarified that he can walk and cycle but cannot run and that his disability does not entirely limit his physical capabilities. 

His clarification came after several photos went viral on social media featuring him engaging in physical activities, such as cycling 30 kilometres from Kempty Falls and participating in rafting in Rishikesh. 

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In 2019, Desai—who is currently serving as the Additional Collector of Karimnagar secured an All India Rank (AIR) 532 in the UPSC examination. Several media reports mentioned that Desai's medical report from Belagavi District Hospital states that polio has left him with a 45 per cent handicap in his left leg and a locomotor disability. 

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