‘Is Trying To Live A Normal Life Wrong?’ Telangana IAS Officer Denies Disability Quota Forgery Claims

An IAS officer from Telangana has denied allegations of forging a disability certificate to gain a reservation in the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) civil service examination.

Praful Desai, who is accused of misusing the Orthopedically Handicapped (OH) quota, asserts that his disability does not prevent him from engaging in physical activities, which he says were part of his training. The allegations against Desai surfaced in light of a similar case involving trainee IAS officer Puja Khedkar.

The row surrounding Desai began after social media photos showed him participating in adventure sports, including horse riding, rafting, and cycling. Critics argue that these activities are inconsistent with the severity of the disability he claimed to have, which was used to secure a position through the disability quota.

‘Being physically challenged’

Strongly rejecting the allegations, Desai asserted that while he has a disability, it does not prevent him from engaging in certain physical activities. “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,” Desai said in a statement posted on X

“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 and sensitive towards genuine people and their family before directly jumping into conclusion without thorough information and even now I’m ready to face any medical board examination,” he added.

Desai, currently serving as the Additional Collector of Karimnagar, secured an all-India rank of 532 in the UPSC exam in 2019. Several media reports said that Desai’s medical report from Belagavi District Hospital confirms he has a locomotor disability and a 45 percent disability in his left leg due to polio. He explained that many of the activities depicted in the viral photos were part of his training program.

Desai, who comes from a farmers’ family in Karnataka’s Belagavi district, contracted polio in his left leg at the age of five. He clarified that he can walk and cycle but cannot run and that his disability does not entirely limit his physical capabilities. The photos showing Desai engaging in physical activities, such as cycling 30 kilometers from Kempty Falls and participating in rafting in Rishikesh, have drawn significant backlash on social media.

Critics have questioned the authenticity of his claimed disability and the legitimacy of his use of the disability quota. “I agree that persons who claim benefits on false information should be punished but at the same time we should be sensitive towards people who are genuine. Coming to few of my photos where I have seen doing cycling, trekking and other activities, it was all part of our training programme and for building good bond with our batchmates/friends,” he said.