Trainee IAS Officer Puja Khedkar's Mother Arrested For Threatening Farmers with Gun

Pune: Trainee IAS officer Puja Khedkar's mother, seen threatening farmers with pistol has been arrested on Thursday. The mother of the controversial IAS probationer detained from Mahad in Maharashtra's Raigad district, in a case of allegedly threatening some persons by brandishing a gun over a land dispute, said police.

Police had launched a search for Manorama and her husband Dileep Khedkar after a video surfaced showing her allegedly threatening a group of farmers with a gun over a land dispute at Dhadwali village in Pune's Mulshi tehsil.

An FIR was filed against her following a complaint by one of the farmers under several sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Indian Arms Act.

This year-old video resurfaced amidst allegations of power misuse and misuse of OBC quotas by Puja Khedkar, a trainee IAS officer.

The Paud police in Pune rural have booked the Khedkar couple and five others under the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) sections, including 323 (dishonest or fraudulent removal or concealment of property), and relevant provisions of the Arms act.

"Manorama Khedkar has been detained from Mahad in Raigad district and she is being brought to Pune where, after the completion of formalities, she will be placed under arrest," Superintendent of Police, Pune Rural, Pankaj Deshmukh, said.

Multiple teams had been formed to trace Manorama, her husband and five others accused in the case.

What Is The Viral Video of Manorama Khedkar?

A video had emerged showing her mother, Manorama Khedkar, allegedly threatening farmers with a pistol in an attempt to seize their land. The incident occurred in Mulshi tehsil of Pune district, Maharashtra.

Reports indicated that Puja Khedkar's father, Dileep Khedkar, a former government officer, accumulated property worth crores during his tenure, including 25 acres of land in Mulshi tehsil. The Khedkar family is now accused of trying to expand their holdings by forcibly taking land from neighbouring farmers.

When the farmers resisted, Manorama Khedkar, accompanied by bouncers, allegedly confronted them with a pistol. Although the incident occurred two months ago, local farmers claimed their attempts to file a complaint at the local police station were thwarted due to undue pressure.

The video clearly shows Manorama Khedkar wielding a pistol while threatening the farmers. This revelation has added fuel to the ongoing controversies surrounding IAS officer Puja Khedkar and her family, raising serious questions about abuse of power and influence.

Inquiry Against Khedkar's Father

The Pune ACB has received a complaint seeking an open inquiry against Dilip Khedkar, a retired government officer and father of controversial IAS probationer Puja Khedkar, in connection with alleged disproportionate assets, a senior official said.

 As there is already an inquiry underway by the Anti-Corruption Bureau's Nashik division against him into the alleged disproportionate assets, the Pune unit of the anti-graft agency has sought directions from the ACB headquarters.

Puja Khedkar Case

Puja Khedkar, the 2023-batch IAS officer, is under scrutiny for her claims regarding disability and Other Backward Class (OBC) certificates in her Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) candidature, as well as her conduct during tenure at the Pune collector's office.

Amid the row, the government on Tuesday put on hold the 'district training program' of Khedkar, who was earlier transferred to Washim as a supernumerary assistant collector from Pune, as she was summoned back to the Mussoorie-based Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration for "necessary action".