In a significant development, the Pune City Police have registered a case against Ms. Manorama Khedkar, mother of suspended Indian Administrative Service (IAS) trainee officer Ms. Puja Khedkar. The case was filed at Chaturshrungi Police Station under Sections 221, 238, and 263 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), following a dramatic series of events involving a road rage incident and subsequent kidnapping.
This action adds a legal layer to an already high-profile case that has attracted nationwide attention due to its administrative and legal complexities.
Missing Truck Driver Found at Khedkar Residence
The sequence of events began with a road rage incident in Navi Mumbai that escalated into the alleged kidnapping of a truck driver. Two unidentified men, reportedly involved in a car crash with the truck at the Airoli signal, forced the truck driver, Mr. Prahlad Kumar, into their vehicle. His disappearance triggered an intensive search operation by Navi Mumbai Police.
During the investigation, officers tracked the suspect car to Pune. Their search led them to the residence of Ms. Manorama Khedkar, where they found the missing driver. According to police, Ms. Khedkar resisted law enforcement efforts by refusing to open the door and allegedly attempted to help the accused escape from custody.
Bureaucratic Backdrop: Puja Khedkar’s Past Under Scrutiny
This incident marks another controversial chapter in the Khedkar family’s public saga. Ms. Puja Khedkar, a former IAS trainee, was dismissed from service by the central government in September last year. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) also permanently barred her from appearing in future examinations after she was found guilty of misusing reservation benefits under the OBC and disability quotas and faking her identity in multiple examination attempts.
The administrative action taken by the UPSC and the central government was seen as a stern move towards upholding integrity and transparency in the civil services recruitment process.
Legal Framework in Action: Application of New BNS Provisions
The invocation of Sections 221, 238, and 263 under the newly enforced Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) underscores the police’s reliance on updated legal tools to handle complex cases involving obstruction of justice and concealment of criminal acts.
The case is being closely watched by administrative and legal experts, given its implications for how systemic loopholes and individual misconduct are addressed under the new legal regime.
Also Read: Ex-IAS Trainee Pooja Khedkar’s OBC Certificate Cancelled Over Fraud in UPSC Selection
