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Khedkar is under the scanner for her claims on her disability as well as OBC certificates while clearing the IAS and for her conduct when she was posted in the Pune collector’s office, (Image:@khedkarpavan07/X)
It was Pune District Collector Suhas Diwase who formally communicated Khedkar’s misconduct to the state chief secretary
Probationary IAS officer Puja Khedkar has filed a police complaint alleging harassment against Pune district collector Suhas Diwase.
“Women police personnel visited Khedkar at her residence in Washim on Monday when she lodged a complaint of harassment against Pune district collector Suhas Diwase,” an official said.
Khedkar came under the spotlight after reports surfaced of her demanding perks and facilities she was not entitled to as a trainee IAS officer during her posting in Pune, where she served as assistant collector.
Who Is Suhas Diwase?
It was Pune District Collector Suhas Diwase who formally communicated Khedkar’s misconduct to the state chief secretary. In an exhaustive report, he detailed the probationary IAS officer’s “sense of entitlement” and behavioral issues during her probation period in Pune.
In the letter dated June 24, Diwase stated that Khedkar not only made outlandish demands but that her father, Deelip Khedkar, a retired IAS officer, also allegedly intimidated district staff to fulfill his daughter’s demands.
Diwase further noted in his report that it would be inappropriate to continue Khedkar’s training in Pune, as this could lead to administrative issues. The report also mentioned that she refused an offered chamber because it did not have an attached bathroom.
Subsequently, the state government transferred the 32-year-old probationary IAS officer to Washim district as supernumerary assistant collector following Diwase’s complaint.
Khedkar’s District Training Programme Put On Hold
This development also comes after the Maharashtra government on Tuesday said that Khedkar’s district training program was put on hold amid allegations of forging disability certificates to clear her civil services examination. Additionally, she was summoned back to the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration in Mussoorie by July 23 for “necessary action.”
“You are hereby relieved from the district training program of the state government of Maharashtra… You are instructed to join the academy at the earliest but not later than 23rd July 2024 under any circumstance,” stated a letter issued by Additional Chief Secretary of Maharashtra, Nitin Gadre.
Accusations Against Khedkar
The 34-year-old Maharashtra cadre officer faces accusations of using fraudulent means to clear her civil services exam, including allegedly forging Other Backward Classes (OBC) non-creamy layer (NCL) certificates and disability certificates.
Khedkar, a 2023-batch officer, had submitted multiple medical certificates to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), one of which indicated visual impairment under the Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) provision.
Last week, the Union government established a one-member committee “to verify the candidature” of Khedkar and instructed it to submit a report within two weeks.
Additionally, the Maharashtra chief secretary’s office and the director’s office of the LBSNAA have also launched inquiries into the allegations of forgery against Khedkar.