Controversies Surrounding IAS Trainee Puja Khedkar and Family Intensify

Maharashtra's Pune police have detained Manorama Khedkar, mother of IAS trainee Puja Khedkar, from Mahad on Thursday morning, according to Pankaj Deshmukh, SP of Pune Rural Police. Manorama previously received a show cause notice on June 13 concerning the misuse of a licensed gun.

Pune Commissioner of Police Amitesh Kumar issued the notice to Manorama Khedkar, who is the Sarpanch of Bhalgaon village in Ahmednagar, after she was caught on video waving a pistol during a heated argument. She was instructed to respond within 10 days.

A case under the Arms Act has been registered against Manorama Khedkar for reportedly threatening a local farmer. Additionally, Pune police have summoned Puja Khedkar, a probationary IAS officer, to record her statement about a harassment complaint she filed against Pune District Collector Suhas Diwase.

Puja Khedkar is expected to provide her statement on Thursday. This follows her harassment complaint against Diwase, which led to her removal from the State Government's District Training Program and subsequent recall to the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) in Mussoorie.

A letter from Additional Chief Secretary Nitin Gadre indicated that LBSNAA would be putting Khedkar’s training on hold for further investigation. Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar criticized the controversy, comparing it unfavorably to previous administrative dialogues.

Meanwhile, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in Pune has launched an inquiry into Khedkar's father, Dilip Khedkar, regarding unaccounted wealth. Puja Khedkar, who ranked 821 in the UPSC exams, has also faced accusations of misusing her authority. Pune Police are investigating an Audi car used by Khedkar, with actions initiated under the Motor Vehicles Act and pending challans being recovered.

(With inputs from agencies.)