In a significant development, Manorama Khedkar, the mother of IAS probationer Puja Khedkar, has been remanded to 14 days of judicial custody following her arrest for allegedly threatening a farmer with a firearm. The Pune court’s decision came on Monday, a few days after her arrest on Thursday.
The case dates back to June of the previous year, when Manorama Khedkar is accused of threatening a person with a gun over a land dispute. The prosecution claims that Manorama, along with her husband and three accomplices, intimidated the complainant by putting a gun to his head and almost pulling the trigger.
Manorama Khedkar was apprehended at a lodge in Raigad district, where she was reportedly hiding. She was subsequently brought before a judicial magistrate. The gravity of the allegations has led to the inclusion of Section 307, which pertains to the attempt to murder.
This arrest adds to the controversies surrounding her daughter, Puja Khedkar, a probationary IAS officer. Earlier, the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) had sealed a company named ThermoVerita, which is linked to Manorama Khedkar, due to an alleged tax default amounting to ₹2.77 lakh.
PCMC Commissioner Shekhar Singh revealed that the company had failed to pay property taxes for the fiscal years 2022-2023 and 2023-2024. Notices were issued for the unpaid dues, and the water supply was disconnected as a step towards recovering the outstanding amount. Despite these measures, the dues remained unpaid, leading to the sealing of the property.
“The total outstanding amount, including the current year’s dues, stands at ₹2.77 lakh. The property was sealed as the dues have been pending for the last two years,” Singh explained.
The ongoing legal and financial issues have intensified scrutiny around Puja Khedkar, who had previously used the company’s address to secure a disability certificate from YCM Hospital Pimpri Chinchwad.
Sources By Agencies