Controversy Surrounds Pune IAS Officer’s Posting: Did Senior Officials or Politicians Influence the Decision?

Pune Collector Receives Unsolicited Visit from Probationary Officer On April 12, Pooja Khedkar, an IAS officer in training, made headlines when she visited Pune Collector Suhas Divase at the Pune Collectorate. At the time, Khedkar was beginning her training at Yashada Sanstha in Pune, but the state’s General Administration Department had not yet informed Divase of her impending assignment. Despite this, Khedkar informed Divase of her upcoming role as a probationary officer, receiving a warm welcome with a bouquet of flowers.

Khedkar’s Unusual Requests and Early Arrival

Pooja Khedkar’s engagement with the Pune Collectorate seemed unusually proactive. She began messaging Suhas Divase on April 1, expressing her intention to join the Pune Collectorate. On April 8, Khedkar called Divase, requesting a cabin and a car. Despite her insistence, Khedkar officially joined the Pune Collectorate only on June 3.

Questions Arise Over Influences Behind Khedkar’s Posting

The matter has raised questions regarding whether there was undue influence involved in Khedkar’s posting. The General Administration Department’s recent GR lists the training postings for Khedkar and 11 other IAS officers. While officers like Kashmira Sankhe and Amar Raut were assigned to Chandrapur and Amravati, respectively, Khedkar received a posting in her hometown of Pune. This has led to speculation about possible pressure from senior officials or politicians to secure a preferred posting for her.The circumstances surrounding Pooja Khedkar’s posting continue to draw scrutiny, as stakeholders seek clarity on whether her early engagement with the Pune Collectorate was influenced by external factors.