In a dramatic turn of events, Manorama Khedkar, mother of trainee IAS officer Puja Khedkar, was apprehended while using a fake Aadhaar card to secure accommodation at a lodge in Maharashtra’s Raigad district. Manorama had hired a private cab and was staying at the lodge with the cab driver, whom she introduced as her son, police sources revealed.
Manorama Khedkar was arrested early this morning in connection with a viral video showing her brandishing a firearm and threatening villagers, reportedly over a land dispute. She faces multiple charges, including attempted murder. A Pune court has remanded her in police custody for two days.
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Multiple police teams had been actively searching for both Manorama Khedkar and her husband, Dilip Khedkar, who is also implicated in the viral video case. However, Dilip Khedkar remains at large.
Now- IAS trainee ofcr Puja Khedkar’s mother, Manorama Khedkar’s 2mnth old video surfaced, threatening farmers with a pistol to forcibly acquire their land.
This entire family looks fraud. Why this offcr is not sent on leave till the inquiry is concluded?pic.twitter.com/NGJiPfoD6H
— The Hawk Eye (@thehawkeyex) July 12, 2024
“Manorama rented a private taxi and reached the hotel. She was staying there with the cab driver and had introduced him as her son,” a highly-placed police source told NDTV. “She had used a fake ID card that identified her as Indubai.”
ALSO READ: UPSC files FIR against Puja Khedkar, says she faked her parents’ names, her signature and email id
Police tracked Manorama Khedkar down using GPS technology and apprehended her at the lodge. CCTV footage from outside the lodge captured the moment she was escorted to a police vehicle before being transported to Pune for arrest.
The controversial video emerged amidst the scandal involving her 34-year-old daughter, Puja Khedkar. The trainee IAS officer from the 2023 batch made headlines recently when Pune Collector Suhas Diwase reported her for making several unauthorized demands during her probation.
This complaint initiated an investigation, leading to serious questions about Puja Khedkar’s eligibility for the UPSC selection process. Allegations arose that she improperly utilized relaxations for physical disability and OBC candidacy.
ALSO READ: Puja Khedkar’s father Dilip Khedkar was suspended twice on extortion charges: Report
As a result, Puja Khedkar’s two-year training has been suspended, and her selection into the IAS is under scrutiny by a central panel.
Adding to the family’s troubles, Puja Khedkar’s father, Dilip Khedkar, is under investigation for amassing assets disproportionate to his income. The retired Maharashtra government officer has been suspended twice on corruption charges following accusations of extortion from businessmen. The Pune Anti-Corruption Bureau has now launched a probe against him.
This unfolding saga continues to capture public attention as the authorities work to uncover the full extent of the alleged misconduct.
