Manorama Khedkar faces charges for allegedly hindering investigation into truck helper’s abduction case.
The Pune City police have registered a first information report against Manorama Khedkar, the mother of former Indian Administrative Service probationer Puja Khedkar. This action follows allegations that she obstructed the investigation into the abduction of a truck helper named Prahlad Kumar. Reports indicate that Kumar was kidnapped from Navi Mumbai after a road rage incident that occurred on Saturday and was later rescued from Puja Khedkar’s residence in Pune on Sunday.
According to the police, Manorama Khedkar is accused of aiding the suspects in their escape and preventing law enforcement officials from entering her home when they sought to investigate the abduction case. It has been reported that she reportedly unleashed an aggressive dog to deter the police from conducting a search at her residence.
The police invoked several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which pertain to obstructing a public servant in the performance of their duties, causing the disappearance of evidence, and hindering the lawful apprehension of an individual.
The sequence of events began around 7 pm on September 13, when a concrete mixer truck collided with an SUV in the Airoli area of Navi Mumbai. Following the incident, an argument erupted between the individuals involved. The driver of the SUV requested Kumar to accompany him to the Rabale police station in Navi Mumbai, after which Kumar went missing.
A complaint regarding the abduction was lodged by Vilas Dhengre, the owner of the concrete mixer truck. Dhengre reported that at approximately 8:30 pm on the same day, the truck driver, Chandrakumar Chavan, informed him that Kumar was not responding to calls. This prompted Dhengre and Chavan to meet in Kharghar, near Navi Mumbai, to commence their search for Kumar.
Subsequent investigations led police to conclude, based on technical evidence, that the truck helper had been taken to Pune. A police team then traveled to Pune and located Kumar at the bungalow owned by Puja Khedkar. Senior Inspector Balkrushna Sawant noted that the occupants of the bungalow were uncooperative during the police’s efforts to investigate the situation. Manorama Khedkar has since been requested to report to the police station for further questioning.
In addition, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone-1) Pankaj Dahane revealed to The Times of India that the SUV involved in the incident is registered under the name of Puja Automobiles, which has a registered address at Khedkar’s bungalow in Pune. The police are currently working to identify the two suspects linked to the abduction and their connection to the Khedkar family.
