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Puja Khedkar Accuses Pune Collector of Insults in Letter to Government

Former IAS trainee officer Puja Khedkar, whose candidacy was recently revoked by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), reached out to Maharashtra’s Additional Chief Secretary last month to clarify her position amidst the ongoing controversy.

In a letter dated July 11, just three days after her transfer from Pune to Washim, Khedkar alleged that Pune Collector Suhas Diwase had subjected her to insults since the beginning of her training at the Pune District Collectorate. On July 8, she was transferred due to what was described as her “arrogant behaviour.” Diwase had previously written to Additional Chief Secretary Nitin Gadre, complaining about Khedkar’s “entitled behaviour.”

In her correspondence, Khedkar referenced Diwase’s complaint and expressed how the letter and ensuing media coverage had deeply affected her. She stated, “Because of this (letter and media coverage), my image has become that of an arrogant officer in the public’s eye. This is causing me mental trauma, and I am extremely disturbed,” she wrote in her three-page letter in Marathi.

Khedkar expressed confusion over the treatment she received, noting, “I don’t know the reason, but since the day I joined as a probationary officer, the Pune Collector has been subjecting me to insults.”

Additionally, she addressed accusations regarding her unauthorized use of the additional collector’s ante-chamber, asserting that her father, Dilip Khedkar, had only visited to drop off her lunch. Recently, Pune Police filed charges against him for allegedly exerting undue pressure on a public servant based on a complaint from a tehsildar at the Pune Collectorate.

Khedkar explained that Additional Collector Ajay More had offered her the ante-chamber and arranged for her needs. However, after Diwase returned to the office, he was informed of her seating arrangement and allegedly ordered the removal of her furniture, accusing her of encroachment without considering her explanations.

The following day, Khedkar attempted to meet Diwase but, finding him busy, sent him a text apologizing and stating she would accept any decision regarding her seating. She believed the matter was resolved at that point.

Diwase has since denied Khedkar’s allegations, calling them “nonsensical and made as an afterthought” in a statement to The Indian Express last week.

Ziya Khan

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