Probationary IAS officer Puja Khedkar has lodged a harassment complaint against Pune district collector Suhas Diwase, an official confirmed on Tuesday. Khedkar, who is under scrutiny for the legitimacy of her disability and OBC certificates used to clear the IAS exams, as well as her conduct during her tenure at the Pune collector’s office, filed the complaint at her Washim residence. “Women police personnel visited Khedkar at her residence in Washim on Monday, and she lodged a complaint of harassment against Pune district collector Suhas Diwase,” the official stated.
Earlier, Khedkar declined to elaborate on the police visit when questioned by the media. “I had called female police personnel because I had some work,” she mentioned.
In the midst of this controversy, the government has put Khedkar’s ‘district training program’ on hold and summoned her back to the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration for “necessary action”.
Khedkar was transferred to Washim as a supernumerary assistant collector from Pune after Diwase reported her conduct to senior officials. Allegations include demanding facilities not entitled to her as a trainee IAS official and occupying the ante-chamber of a senior official.
Regarding the next steps, the official in Washim confirmed that the complaint would be forwarded to the Pune police for further action, news agency PTI reported.
