Image Source: Indian Express
The arrest of Manorama Khedkar by Pune Police this morning has sparked significant controversy, tied to a viral video where she is seen brandishing a pistol during a confrontation with local farmers over a land dispute in Mulshi village, Pune district. This incident adds to the woes of her daughter, Puja Khedkar, a trainee IAS officer embroiled in various controversies including allegations around her UPSC candidature and misuse of her position.
Manorama Khedkar was apprehended at a lodge near Raigad Fort in Raigad district, and Pune Police plan to formally arrest her upon her return to Pune. The viral video depicts a tense exchange where she demands to see land documents supposedly in her name, ultimately resorting to displaying the firearm, which she quickly conceals upon realizing she’s being recorded.
In addition to the firearm possession charge, the FIR lodged against Manorama also implicates her husband, Dilip Khedkar, a retired administrative officer with a history marred by corruption allegations. Dilip Khedkar faced suspension twice during his tenure, firstly in 2018 while serving in Kolhapur amid bribery allegations related to local sawmill and timber merchants. His second suspension occurred in 2020 under similar circumstances.
The Khedkar family’s troubles don’t end there. Puja Khedkar, who ranked 841 in the UPSC 2023 batch, faces allegations of misrepresenting her caste status and false claims regarding disabilities during her exams. Further accusations include misuse of privileges such as red beacon use, VIP number plates, and government stickers on her private vehicle, an Audi sedan. Recent revelations about her substantial property holdings in Maharashtra valued at ₹22 crore have raised additional scrutiny regarding the family’s financial dealings.
These intertwined controversies have cast a spotlight on the Khedkar family, with legal proceedings pending and public scrutiny intensifying. The incident underscores broader concerns about governance and accountability, particularly within bureaucratic circles where ethical standards and transparency are expected to be upheld rigorously.
