Controversy Surrounds Pune DC and Probationary IAS Officer Amid Allegations and Investigations

Pune District Collector Suhas Diwase faces harassment allegations from IAS probationer Puja Khedkar. Investigations are ongoing with Khedkar's training on hold and her family under scrutiny. Authorities, including the Anti-Corruption Bureau, are probing related issues.

Pune District Collector (DC) Suhas Diwase has responded to harassment allegations made against him by probationary IAS officer Puja Khedkar, stating he has yet to receive any official complaint, thus having no basis to respond.

Officers from Washim police station visited Khedkar's residence, as Pune Crime Branch investigates the case. Khedkar, who missed a scheduled appearance before Pune Police on Thursday, was found staying at her official guest house in Washim.

In a significant update, Pune Police issued a notice requesting Khedkar to record her statement regarding the harassment complaint against Diwase. Concurrently, Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) has suspended her training, under orders from Additional Chief Secretary Nitin Gadre.

Nationalist Congress Party Chief Sharad Pawar criticized the current administrative handling of the situation, highlighting a lack of dialogue.

The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in Pune is probing the unaccounted assets of Khedkar's father, Dilip Khedkar. Earlier, Pune Police initiated action against an Audi car used by Puja Khedkar, who has faced accusations of authority misuse, resulting in her transfer from Pune to Washim.

On Thursday, a Pune district court remanded Khedkar's mother, Manorama Khedkar, to police custody until July 20, following her arrest for allegedly brandishing a gun over a land dispute last June.