Trainee IAS Officer Puja Khedkar's Mother Manorama Arrested For Brandishing Gun At Farmers

Manorama Khedkar, mother of controversial trainee IAS officer Puja Khedkar, was detained by Pune Police for allegedly possessing an illegal pistol.

Manorama was seen brandishing a firearm and threatening farmers in Pune's Mulshi tehsil over a land dispute in an old video which surfaced recently.

This led to a fresh FIR being filed against her, including charges under the Indian Arms Act. Puja's father, Dilip Khedkar, a retired government servant, had purchased land in the area, adding further complexity to the situation.

Manorama Khedkar's arrest took place after she had been on the run and was found in a hotel in Raigad. Pune police was on hot pursuit of both Manorama and Dilip Khedkar following the emergence of the video, deploying multiple teams for the search.

Separately, another video from 2022 surfaced showing Manorama in a confrontation with Pune metro officials and police over construction materials near their bungalow on Baner Road.

Meanwhile, Puja Khedkar, who joined the IAS in 2023 in Maharashtra, has been transferred from Pune to Washim amid allegations of misconduct during her probation period. She is also facing an investigation regarding the alleged falsification of disability certificates to qualify for the civil services examination.

Given the seriousness of these allegations, the central government has initiated a probe into Puja Khedkar's conduct and the circumstances surrounding her selection as an IAS officer.