After Puja Khedkar, former IAS officer Abhishek Singh faces scrutiny over disability claim

Abhishek Singh claimed to have a locomotor disability to avail concessions in the UPSC selection process

With several questioning the credibility of exam process conducted by the Union Public Service Commission after trainee IAS officer Puja Khedkar allegedly submitted fake disability certificates to get the job, another such incident involving a former IAS officer has surfaced.

Abhishek Singh, 2011 batch IAS officer, who resigned last year to become an actor - is under scrutiny after his dance and gym videos went viral on social media. He was selected under the disability criteria. Abhishek Singh claimed to have a locomotor disability to avail concessions in the UPSC selection process.

Several users have questioned his position in the disabled category and called for greater transparency and accountability in the bureaucratic selection process.

Responding to the allegations, Singh reportedly said he is being targeted for supporting reservations.

"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 - earlier known as Twitter.

"I have done social work through my initiatives like United by Blood and the No-Shame Movement without government help. 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," he added. "I move on the strength of my talent, confidence, and courage, not in anyone's favour."

Singh, who also contested unsuccessfully elections this year from Jaunpur, has had an active social media presence. In November 2022, he was in the news after he was removed as a general observer for Gujarat assembly polls by the Election Commission for indulging in a “publicity stunt” by posting pictures of himself with his official vehicle on Instagram.

According to media reports, in 2015, Singh was given a deputation in Delhi Government for three years, which was extended in 2018 for two years. He was sent back to his parent cadre, Uttar Pradesh in 2020 due to his medical leave. He didn’t join the duty in UP for a long time.

Singh also tried his hands on acting and appeared in Netflix’s acclaimed series Delhi Crime, short film Chaar Pandrah, and B Praak’s music video Dil Tod Ke. Hailing from Uttar Pradesh’s Jaunpur, his wife, Durga Shakti Nagpal, is the District Magistrate of Banda district.