Pune District Collector Suhas Diwase Denies Sexual Harassment Claims By Trainee IAS Officer Puja Khedkar
Pune, 1st August 2024: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has cancelled the candidature of Puja Khedkar, a trainee IAS officer, effective July 30. Khedkar will no longer be eligible to appear for any UPSC exams. The UPSC’s decision follows allegations of rule violations by Khedkar, who has also accused Pune District Collector Suhas Diwase of sexual harassment.
Khedkar’s allegations came to light after she filed a complaint against Diwase while she was posted in Washim. She claims that the action taken against her is retaliation for her sexual harassment complaint. Diwase, however, has dismissed these allegations as baseless, asserting that the complaints surfaced only after Khedkar’s transfer.
Diwase refuted Khedkar’s claims, stating, “She was at the Pune Collectorate from June 3 to June 14. During that time, I met with her only three times, always in the presence of other officers. No harassment complaints were made during her tenure here.”
He added, “Khedkar did not report any issues until after her transfer to Washim. It appears that these allegations were suggested to her later.”
During her tenure at the Pune Collectorate, Khedkar had come under scanner for her behaviour with other officers. Diwase had previously raised concerns with the state government regarding her conduct, including issues such as the misuse of amber lights on her private Audi car and demands for additional staff. Following these complaints, Khedkar was transferred to Washim, where she subsequently filed her sexual harassment complaint against Diwase.
Khedkar’s lawyer, Madhavan, has made serious allegations during an anticipatory bail hearing in a Delhi court, asserting that Diwase summoned Khedkar to a private meeting, which she refused. Madhavan questioned the rapid actions taken against Khedkar, arguing for her right to a fair defence.
