Pune News
Pune Collector Rejects Puja Khedkar’s Sexual Harassment Allegations as ‘Nonsensical’
Pune district Collector Suhas Diwase firmly denied the allegations made against him by IAS probationer Puja Khedkar on Wednesday. In an interview with The Indian Express, Diwase described the accusations as “nonsensical and made as an afterthought.”Diwase clarified that Khedkar was attached to the district Collector’s office from June 3 to June 14, during which time he met her only three times, always in the presence of his officers and legal counsel. He emphasized that after June 14, Khedkar was assigned to the office of the Divisional Commissioner. “She did not raise any allegations during her time here. In her letter to the state government, in response to my correspondence, she made no such claims,” he stated.
Diwase suggested that the harassment allegations surfaced only after Khedkar was transferred to Washim, labeling them as an afterthought.Following Diwase’s formal report regarding Khedkar’s alleged misconduct during her probation, she was transferred to Washim, where she subsequently lodged a harassment complaint against him. On the same day, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) announced the cancellation of Khedkar’s candidature in the 2022 Civil Services Examination (CSE), barring her from future examinations due to violations of the examination rules; she had appeared for the exam more times than permitted.
Khedkar is also facing several serious allegations, including submitting false disability and Other Backward Class (OBC) certificates. In a statement to an Additional Sessions court in Delhi, she claimed that the case against her arose as retaliation for her sexual harassment complaint against Diwase. Khedkar further asserted that the media had engaged in a witch hunt against her, complicating the already contentious situation. Lastly, it is interesting to see how a lady at the wrong side is now busy hurling false allegations against her seniors. Do let us know your views by commenting below. And stay tuned to know more about it and others only with us.
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