Pune Traffic Cops Seize Controversial IAS Officer Puja Khedkar’s Luxury Car

Pune: The luxury car belonging to trainee IAS Officer Puja Khedkar was seized by Pune Traffic Police after it was alleged that she had misused her power. The vehicle, according to media reports, was taken to the police station.

It had been alleged that Khedkar had used a red and blue beacon along with a VIP number plate on the private car, violating the Motor Vehicles Act. According to news reports, she had also got ‘Maharashtra Government’ written on the vehicle without permission.

According to an India Today report, on Saturday night, Khedkar’s family driver handed over the keys to the Chatushringi traffic police station. Earlier, the police had sent a notice, asking the owners of the car to submit documents of the vehicle. However, the documents were allegedly not submitted yet.

‘Why your gun licence shouldn’t be cancelled?’

Meanwhile, an Indian Express report claimed that the Pune city police had issued a showcause notice to Puja’s mother, Manorama Khedkar, asking why her gun licence should not be cancelled.
The move comes after a video showing Manorama Khedkar brandishing a gun at a farmer went viral on social media and was also reported by television news channels.

On Saturday, an FIR was filed against the officer’s mother Manorama Khedkar following a complaint by a farmer who alleged that he was threatened by the latter.

The police commissioner reportedly asked Manorama to respond to the show cause notice within ten days. On failure to respond within the stipulated time, the process of cancelling her gun license would be initiates, the notice cautioned.

An Indian Express report stated that Inspector Manoj Yadav of the Paud police station said they conducted the spot panchnama and recorded statements of the witnesses in Manorama’s case. “Investigation is on. We are gathering evidence,” he had told media.

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.