Puja Khedkar, an IAS probationary officer, has lodged a harassment complaint against Pune District Collector Suhas Diwase. Diwase had previously reported her alleged abuse of power to the Maharashtra government, which resulted in her transfer to Washim, as reported by sources to India Today TV. Khedkar's transfer from Pune to Washim to serve as a supernumerary assistant collector occurred last week.
On Monday night, police officers visited Puja Khedkar's residence as part of their ongoing investigation into the harassment case, sources further revealed.
In a communication to the Chief Secretary, Diwase highlighted the demands made by Khedkar. The 2023-batch IAS officer from the Maharashtra cadre was allegedly requesting special privileges from the Collector's office, which were deemed inappropriate for a probationary officer.
Specifically, Diwase's report noted that Khedkar had requested a designated office cabin and vehicle even before her official start date on June 3. Although Khedkar was provided with her own office chamber, she refused it due to the absence of an attached bathroom.
Following the District Collector's report, Khedkar was reassigned to Washim district to complete her training program.
The allegations of power misuse also led to revelations about Khedkar allegedly forging disability certificates to qualify for the civil services examination.
As the controversy surrounding Khedkar's selection process intensified, the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) in Mussoorie took action. On Tuesday, they suspended her IAS training. The official order stated that Khedkar has been relieved from her duties in Maharashtra and must report back to the Academy by July 23.
