Pune police reveal details of gun threat by IAS officer Puja Khedkar's mother Manorama Khedkar in court
Pooja Kedhkar mother
The Pune Police told a Maharashtra court on Thursday (July 18) that Manorama Khedkar, the mother of IAS probationer Puja Khedkar, had put a gun to the complainant’s head and was about to pull the trigger. The complainant ducked in fear while others restrained Manorama, the prosecutor said, according to PTI.
The police are seeking five dayscustody for Manorama in connection with a land dispute. Manorama, her husband Dilip Khedkar, and three others, all named in the FIR, are described as “influential and politically active” individuals. The court in Paud remanded her in police custody until July 20.
Earlier that day, Pune Rural Police detained Manorama from a lodge in Mahad, Raigad district, and brought her to the Paud Police station before arresting her, said Pankaj Deshmukh, Superintendent of Police, Pune Rural.
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A farmer from Dhadwali, Pandharinath Pasalkar, 65, filed the FIR against Manorama Khedkar, Diliprao Khedkar, and several unidentified individuals under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Arms Act. The police also added IPC Section 307 (attempt to murder) against Manorama.
The incident stems from a land dispute in Dhadwali village, Mulshi tehsil, where Manorama allegedly threatened Pasalkar with a gun on June 4, 2023. A video of the incident surfaced, prompting the police to search for Manorama and Dilip Khedkar.
Police claim Manorama has not cooperated with investigators and has not provided information about her husband and the other accused, nor details about the pistol and the vehicle used.
The police argue that they need her custodial interrogation to confiscate the weapon and trace the other accused. Defense counsel Nikhil Malani opposed the request for police custody, noting that Manorama had previously filed a case against the complainant, resulting in a chargesheet.
“The present complainant was on the backfoot due to the case filed against him. But after a video went viral, he came forward and filed a case against my client,” Malani said.
He also argued that the police had added the non-bailable Section 307 (attempt to murder) to the FIR abruptly on July 17, leading to Manorama's arrest. He claimed the case was an “afterthought” as it was registered 13 months after the incident.
After hearing both sides, the court remanded Manorama in police custody until July 20.
(With inputs from agencies)
