Police Confiscate Mother’s Pistol Used by Puja Khedkar to Threaten Farmers

Manorama Khedkar was arrested from Maharashtra’s Raigad district on Thursday. She was arrested in connection with a viral video in which she is seen brandishing a firearm and threatening some villagers, reportedly over a land dispute.

Police have seized the SUV seen in the viral video which has sparked public outrage. Ms Khedkar faces multiple charges, including attempt to murder.

The footage shows her in a heated exchange with a farmer, demanding to see land documents allegedly in her name. As tensions escalated, she waved the firearm threateningly before quickly concealing it upon noticing a camera recording the encounter.

The video that has put Manorama Khedkar in trouble emerged amid the row surrounding her 34-year-old daughter Puja Khedkar. The 2023-batch trainee IAS officer, Puja Khedkar, made headlines a few weeks ago when Pune collector Suhas Diwase wrote to Maharashtra Chief Secretary Sujata Saunik, flagging several demands that she was not entitled to during her probation.

This complaint set in motion a chain of events that led to shocking revelations. Questions were raised over how she cleared the tough selection process for UPSC.

She was found to have availed of relaxation for physical disability and OBC candidacy, but allegations of her not being eligible for such relaxations surfaced. Her two-year training has now been put on hold, and her selection into the IAS is being probed by a panel formed by the Centre.