Early on Sunday morning, teams from both Pune Rural and Pune City police arrived at the Baner residence of Manorama Khedkar, mother of trainee IAS officer Puja Khedkar, seeking to question her about a recent rioting incident. Despite two visits at 7 a.m. and 10 a.m., the officers left without any interaction as their calls at the gates went unanswered.
Pune Rural Superintendent of Police, Pankaj Deshmukh, informed the Times of India, “We aimed to interrogate Manorama Khedkar regarding a rioting and threatening case filed by the Paud police, following a farmer’s complaint from Dhadawali in Mulshi taluka.”
The case, registered on Friday night, involves a video from June 5, 2023, showing Manorama brandishing a pistol during a confrontation with farmers over a land dispute, accompanied by private bouncers.
On Saturday, police gathered statements from witnesses in Dhadawali and conducted a spot inspection. The following morning, officials from Paud police and the Rural police’s local crime branch attempted to visit Manorama’s bungalow. “We also sought information about the private bouncers and others present during the incident,” Deshmukh added. Despite their efforts, there was no response from inside the locked gates.
Pune police commissioner Amitesh Kumar announced on Saturday that Manorama’s .25 bore Webley and Scott pistol license, issued in 2000 for self-defense, was under scrutiny. The police intended to deliver a notice demanding an explanation for the alleged misuse of the firearm, with the threat of revoking the license.
Senior Inspector Shailesh Shankhe and his Chatushrungi police team made a second visit to the bungalow at 10 a.m. to serve the notice. Again, there was no response, prompting the officers to paste the notice on the gate before departing.
The notice details the rioting case and accuses Manorama of violating her firearm license terms. It demands a response within ten days, warning of license cancellation if she fails to comply.