IAS Officer Puja Khedkar Accuses Pune Collector Suhas Diwase of Harassment

Probationary IAS officer Puja Khedkar has filed a harassment complaint against Pune district collector Suhas Diwase in Washim, Maharashtra. An official confirmed this on Tuesday. Despite attempts to reach him, Diwase did not respond to calls and messages for his reaction.

Complaint Details

Women police officers visited Khedkar's residence in Washim on Monday. During their visit, she lodged the harassment complaint against Diwase. Khedkar is also under scrutiny for her disability and OBC certificates used during her IAS selection and her behaviour while posted at the Pune collector's office.

Khedkar was transferred to Washim as a supernumerary assistant collector from Pune. This move followed Diwase's report to senior officials about her alleged misconduct, including demanding facilities she wasn't entitled to and occupying a senior official's ante-chamber.

Government Action

Amid the controversy, the government has paused Khedkar's district training programme. She has been called back to the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration for further action. Earlier on Tuesday, Khedkar declined to elaborate on the police visit when speaking to TV news channels.

"I had called female police personnel because I had some work," she stated.

When asked about the next steps regarding her complaint, an official in Washim mentioned that it would be forwarded to the Pune police. Meanwhile, Diwase remained unresponsive to repeated calls and messages seeking his comment.

The situation continues to develop as authorities look into both Khedkar's allegations and her own conduct during her tenure in Pune.