Pune: An FIR has been filed against controversial trainee IAS officer Puja Khedkar’s mother Manorama Khedkar following a complaint by a farmer who alleged that he was threatened by the latter, ANI reported on Saturday.
The FIR, registered by Pune Rural Police under sections 323, 504, 506 of BNS as well as charges under Arms Act, also named Puja’s father Dilip Khedkar and five others, senior police inspector Manoj Yadav informed.
A video, showing Manorama yelling and threatening a group of men with a gun in hand, went viral on Friday, adding to the woes of under-fire Puja.
Watch the video which went viral on X:
Manorama Khedkar, mother of the infamous IAS officer Pooja Khedkar, was witnessed arrogantly challenging police personnel and reporters, while also making legal threats, following her attempt to take over land using a gun and private hired bouncers. It appears that the entire… pic.twitter.com/ZkuQnNRfNJ
— Vaibhav Kokat (@ivaibhavk) July 12, 2024
Pune Rural Police has started an investigation to ascertain facts, including if Puja’s mother possessed a licence for the firearm she was brandishing.
“Police have registered an FIR against Manorama Khedkar, Dilip Khedkar, parents of trainee IAS officer Pooja Khedkar and five others. The FIR was filed last night at Paud police station based on the complaint of a local farmer who alleged that he was threatened by Manoram Khedkar. Charges under the Arms Act have also been included,” said Pune Rural Police.
According to police, the incident was about a land parcel bought by Puja Khedkar’s father Dilip, a retired Maharashtra government officer, at Dhadwali village in Pune’s Mulshi tehsil. The dispute was apparently over locals’ claim that the Khedkars had encroached on the land of neighbouring farmers.
Kuldeep Pasalkar, a farmer, claimed Manorama was forcefully trying to take over his land.
“She has been threatening other farmers as well. She visited my plot along with some security guards and started threatening us while holding a firearm in her hand,” Pasalkar said.
Puja, a 2023-batch IAS officer from Maharashtra, has been making the headlines for alleged misuse of power as a civil servant.
The Central government has set up a one-member committee to verify allegations of fake certificate used during her interview.
