Lagatar24 Desk
Pune: The troubles for trainee IAS officer Puja Khedkar have been escalating, following a series of allegations including false claims in her UPSC candidature, misuse of power, and now a complaint against her mother for threatening farmers with a gun.
Pune police have registered a case after an old video showing Puja Khedkar’s mother, Manorama Khedkar, brandishing a pistol during an altercation with farmers over a land dispute in Mulshi went viral online. In the footage, Manorama Khedkar is seen demanding to see land documents, allegedly in her name, while waving the weapon before concealing it upon noticing the camera.
Public outrage ensued, prompting the Pune Police to take action. A case has been filed against Manorama Khedkar for voluntarily causing hurt and criminal intimidation. The FIR also names her husband, Dilip Khedkar, a retired administrative officer, as an accused in the case.
Superintendent of Police Pankaj Deshmukh confirmed that the incident occurred a year ago and that the involved parties have been identified and verified. “This incident took place one year ago. We have traced the person with whom this incident took place. We have verified him. Whatever complaint he will give, we will lodge that and take legal action further,” he stated.
Puja Khedkar, a 2023-batch IAS officer who secured an all-India rank (AIR) of 841 in the UPSC exam, is also under scrutiny for allegedly misrepresenting herself as an OBC non-creamy layer candidate and falsely claiming visual and mental disabilities during her UPSC exams. These allegations have intensified public scrutiny of her family, including accusations against her father regarding property acquisitions and land disputes.
Local farmers claim that their previous attempts to file complaints against the Khedkar family were dismissed by the police. Exclusive documents accessed by NDTV revealed that Puja Khedkar owns five plots of land and two apartments across Maharashtra, valued at ?22 crore, according to a “statement of immovable property for the year 2023.”
The young officer also faces serious charges of abuse of power, including the use of a red beacon, VIP number plates, and a “Government of Maharashtra” sticker on her private Audi sedan.
When questioned about the allegations, Puja Khedkar told reporters, “I am not authorised to speak on the issue. Government rules don’t allow me to speak on this.”
The unfolding events have brought significant attention to the Khedkar family, raising questions about integrity and misuse of authority within public service ranks.
