IAS officer Puja Khedkar has filed a police complaint alleging harassment against Pune district collector Suhas Diwase. According to an official, women police personnel visited Khedkar at her residence in Washim on Monday where she lodged the complaint against Diwase.
Suhas Diwase, the Pune District Collector, was the one who formally reported Khedkar’s alleged misconduct to the state chief secretary. In a detailed report dated June 24, Diwase highlighted Khedkar’s behavior and what he described as her sense of entitlement during her probationary period as assistant collector in Pune.
Diwase’s report mentioned that Khedkar had made excessive demands and that her father, retired IAS officer Deelip Khedkar, allegedly pressured district staff to fulfill her requests. He also noted that continuing her training in Pune could lead to administrative issues, citing an incident where she declined an offered chamber because it lacked an attached bathroom.
Following Diwase’s complaint, the state government transferred Khedkar, a 32-year-old probationary IAS officer, to Washim district as supernumerary assistant collector.
Meanwhile, the Maharashtra government announced the suspension of Khedkar’s district training program amid allegations that she forged disability certificates to clear her civil services examination. She has been summoned back to the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration in Mussoorie by July 23 for further action.
Accusations against Khedkar include using fraudulent means such as forging OBC non-creamy layer certificates and disability certificates to clear the UPSC exam. A one-member committee has been tasked by the Union government to verify her candidature, with a report expected within two weeks. Additionally, inquiries into the forgery allegations have been initiated by the Maharashtra chief secretary’s office and the director’s office of the LBSNAA.