The Pune Police has recently announced that it is closing the “Harassment Case” against Pune district collector Suhas Diwase (2009-batch IAS officer) that was once lodged by controversial ex-IAS trainee officer, Ms. Puja Khedkar. According to a senior police official, Ms. Khedkar had not been cooperating with the local police and refrained from participating in further investigation. Top administrative sources confirmed that since the preliminary report has already been submitted to the Chief Secretary of Maharashtra, there is nothing worth investigating against IAS Diwase.
On July 15th, Women police personnel visited Khedkar at her residence in Washim and she complained of sexual harassment during her training period in Pune District Magistrate’s office. However, she refrained from appearing before the authorities even after being summoned three times!
This development added another layer of complexity to the fiasco as it was reported that Ms. Khedkar had been transferred to Washim as a supernumerary assistant collector from Pune after Officer Diwase submitted a report to senior officials about her conduct — such as allegedly demanding the facilities which she, as a trainee IAS official, was not entitled to, and occupying the ante-chamber of another senior official.
The situation has now taken an unexpected turn as Pune Collector Suhas Diwase has announced that he shall file a claim for damages against Ms. Pooja Khedkar.
After Being Denied Anticipatory Bail From Local Court, Puja Khedkar Approaches Delhi High Court
It is pertinent to mention that Ms. Khedkar has approached the Delhi High Court seeking anticipatory bail in a case alleging her involvement in cheating and fraudulent attainment of reservation benefits under the OBC and disability quotas. Her plea shall be heard today by Justice Subramonium Prasad.
The situation unfurled a Delhi court denied Ms. Khedkar’s bail plea and instructed the police to corroborate if other IAS aspirants had lied to avail of similar quotas, saying, “Police are directed to find out if candidates recommended in recent past availed benefits beyond permissible age limit under OBC (Other Backward Classes) quota and PwD (Persons with benchmark Disabilities) benefits… despite not being entitled to it.“
She has been accused of falsifying her application during the 2022 UPSC Civil Services Examination to secure these reservation benefits illegitimately. The controversy has escalated following the Union Public Service Commission’s (UPSC) decision on July 31st to cancel Khedkar’s candidature and impose a ban on her participation in future examinations.
