Manorama Khedkar, the mother of probationary IAS officer Puja Khedkar, was apprehended by authorities on Thursday from a homestay in Raigad district. The arrest followed her alleged involvement in a land dispute incident that escalated to attempted murder charges.
Pune Rural SP Pankaj Deshmukh detailed the sequence of events, revealing that Manorama had traveled by a private cab to various locations before arriving at the homestay around 11 pm on Wednesday. She registered under the alias “Indubai Dhakane,” using the Aadhaar card of the cab driver’s mother, while the driver, Dadasaheb Dhakane, presented his own Aadhaar card to secure the booking.
Authorities, who had been monitoring Manorama’s movements, were alerted when her cellphone, under surveillance, became active in Hirkaniwadi. A team was dispatched to the location, leading to her swift apprehension.
The Paud police had initiated a case on July 12 after a video emerged on social media, showing Manorama brandishing a .25 Webley & Scott pistol during a confrontation with farmers in Dhadhawali village, Mulshi taluka, on June 5, 2023. The video prompted Pandharinath Pasalkar, one of the farmers involved, to lodge a formal complaint.
In his statement, Pasalkar recounted how Manorama arrived in a four-wheeler and began arguing over a disputed parcel of land. When told that the matter was pending in civil court, she allegedly threatened and abused him and the other villagers. Pasalkar further claimed that Manorama pointed a pistol at his head and was about to pull the trigger when he panicked and sat down, prompting her companions to restrain her.
Assistant Public Prosecutor Amar Nanaware informed the court that the police have added an attempted murder charge based on Pasalkar’s supplementary statement. Nanaware emphasized the need for Manorama’s custodial remand to recover the licensed pistol and trace her movements while she was evading arrest. He also highlighted the necessity of apprehending other suspects named in the FIR and investigating the land dispute’s background.
Manorama Khedkar appeared before Judicial Magistrate First Class Sudhir G Barde in Paud on Thursday afternoon. She was remanded in police custody until July 20, following Nanaware’s submissions.
Manohar Aukirkar, the owner of ‘Parvati Nivas’ homestay, recounted the events leading to Manorama’s stay. “At around 11 pm on Wednesday, a man arrived in a car and requested a room for himself and his mother. Due to the heavy rain and the presence of a woman, we took a compassionate approach and provided them a room,” Aukirkar explained. He confirmed that they verified the man’s Aadhaar card, which matched Dadasaheb Dhakane’s details, and accepted the woman as Indubai Dhakane based on his word.
The incident follows a series of controversies involving Manorama’s daughter, IAS officer Puja Khedkar. Puja was recently transferred to Washim from Pune for requesting unauthorized facilities. Subsequently, allegations surfaced regarding the authenticity of her OBC and disability certificates, which were instrumental in her securing an IAS position despite a sub-800 UPSC score.
As investigations continue, the spotlight remains on the Khedkar family, unraveling more questions about their actions and the consequences they now face.