Trainee IAS Puja Khedkar’s Mother Arrested In Illegal Arms Use Case, Father Embroiled in Corruption Charges

Pune: Controversial trainee IAS officer Puja Khedkar’s mother Manorama Khedkar was detained by Pune Police on Thursday for allegedly possessing an illegal firearm.

Puja is entangled in controversies related to her UPSC candidature and allegations of misusing her position.

Absconding Manorama was located in a lodge near the Raigad Fort. In a viral video, she was seen to be threatening a farmer with a pistol over a land dispute in Pune district’s Mulshi village. After the video went viral, the Pune Police took action and registered a First Information Report (FIR) against her and her husband, Dilip Khedkar, a retired administrative officer.

Dilip Khedkar was also deep into corruption charges in the past. He was suspended twice during his tenure as a government officer. In both cases, it was alleged that he was demanding bribes.

Puja Khedkar, who secured an all-India rank (AIR) of 841 in the UPSC exam as part of the 2023 batch, is alleged to have made misrepresentation as an OBC candidate and unsubstantiated claims of visual and mental disabilities during her UPSC exams. Additionally, accusations of her using a red beacon, VIP number plates, and a government sticker on her private Audi sedan have also emerged.

According to reports Puja Khedkar owns five plots of land and two apartments across Maharashtra, worth around Rs 22 crore. This has raised suspicions about her family’s financial dealings.