Manorama Khedkar, mother of controversial trainee IAS officer Puja Khedkar, has been charged with attempt to murder in connection with a viral video in which she was seen wielding a pistol to threaten local farmers over a land dispute. She was produced in court following her arrest. The court has sent her to two days’ police custody.
Manorama, who went missing after the video surfaced, was hiding in a lodge in Mahad, Pune district. The police took her into custody and arrested her upon their return to Pune. She faces charges under the Arms Act for brandishing her licensed weapon, as well as relevant sections of the new criminal code, Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita. An attempted murder charge has been added against her.
Manorama’s lawyer told the court she has an arms licence. The prosecutor clarified that firearm licences are issued for self-defence. “In this case, she had security with her. There was no chance of an attack by the complainant.”
After the video gained widespread attention, Pune Police took immediate action by filing a First Information Report (FIR) against Puja Khedkar. The FIR also names her husband, Dilip Khedkar, as an accused. A twice-suspended retired administrative officer with a history marred by corruption charges, Dilip faced his first suspension in 2018 while serving as the Regional Officer in Kolhapur, following allegations from the local sawmill and timber merchants association, accusing him of soliciting bribes ranging from Rs 25,000 to Rs 50,000 in exchange for reinstating their utilities. His second suspension was in 2020 over similar allegations.
Puja Khedkar, who secured an all-India rank (AIR) of 841 in the UPSC exam for the 2023 batch, has been accused of falsely identifying as an OBC candidate and faking visual and mental disabilities for her UPSC selection. She was initially thrust into the limelight over the use of a red beacon, VIP number plates, and a government sticker on her private Audi sedan.
Her training in Maharashtra has been put on hold and she has been ordered to return to the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) in Mussoorie for further action.
