Puja Khedkar's mother arrested

Manorama Khedkar, mother of controversial probationary IAS officer Puja Khedkar, has been arrested by Pune police. Her arrest comes in connection with an old video in which she was seen allegedly threatening farmers with a pistol.

Manorama Khedkar was arrested from a hotel in Mahad in Raigad district after being on the run. She used a fake name to stay at the hotel. She became "Indubai Dyandev Dhakne" and another person who was with her used the name "Dadasaheb Dnyandev Dhakne".

Anant Aukirkar, the owner of the hotel, said they claimed to be mother and son. Aukirkar said a police team reached the hotel at 3.30 am and left at 6.30 am with the duo.

The police have added Section 307 of the Indian Penal Code (attempt to murder) to the FIR. The police are expected to seek Manorama Khedkar's custody to question her in the case.

An FIR was lodged against Manorama Khedkar and her husband Dilip Khedkar based on a complaint by a farmer, following the emergence of the video. Sections of the Indian Arms Act were also added to the FIR.

Pune Police have been on the lookout for Dilip Khedkar and his wife since the video emerged. Three police teams were formed to catch the couple.

Recently, another controversial video of Manorama Khedkar emerged, in which she could be seen arguing with Pune metro officials and police personnel over construction materials kept near her bungalow. The 2022 video was shot outside the Khedkar family's bungalow on Baner Road in Pune.

Puja Khedkar, a 2023-batch IAS officer of the Maharashtra cadre, recently made headlines after she was transferred from Pune to Washim over wrongful demands and complaints regarding her conduct during the probation period. She is also under probe for allegedly forging disability certificates to clear the civil services examination.