‘Innocent Till Proven Guilty’ – Trainee IAS Officer Puja Khedkar

Pune/Washim, 15th July 2024: Today, controversial probationary IAS officer Puja Khedkar stated, “I will testify in front of the expert committee and we will accept the decision of the committee. I do not have the right to disclose the ongoing investigation. Whatever submission I have will become public later. Our Indian Constitution is based on the principle ‘Innocent until proven guilty,’ so proving me guilty by media trial is wrong.”

She was speaking to media persons in Washim. She was transferred from Pune to Washim district after the controversy erupted in Pune based on the District Collector Suhas Diwase’s report.

Meanwhile, the Centre has sought a report on the misconduct of trainee IAS officer Puja Khedkar, along with Khedkar’s disclosure to the state government. The report sent by Collector Diwase to the state government was in Marathi. Therefore, it will be translated into English before being sent to the Centre.

Collector Diwase submitted a detailed report to the state government regarding Khedkar’s misconduct after she was appointed as a trainee IAS officer in the Pune Collectorate. This report included messages sent to the Collector and the Resident Deputy Collector, reports from the Additional Collector and Tehsildars of the general branch, and photos of the Additional Collector’s ante-chamber which was taken over, putting up a board with her name and designation outside his cabin, and starting a new office. Following the submission of this report, the state government transferred Khedkar to the Washim district for the remainder of her training, citing administrative reasons.

Controversy has also arisen over the documents submitted by Khedkar at the time of her appointment, following the misconduct allegations. Taking cognizance of these issues, the central government has appointed a senior officer as an inquiry officer (additional secretary rank) and instructed to submit a report within two weeks. Consequently, the central government has now asked the state government for a detailed report on Khedkar’s behavior during her training period and instructed to take Khedkar’s explanation on the matter. The state government has asked for a report from the Pune Collector, with instructions to provide it in English.

Officials from the Collector’s Office informed on Monday that this report will be submitted to the Central Government by the State Government.