In a court hearing on Thursday, the Pune Police defended their decision to include IPC Section 307 (attempt to murder) in the FIR against Manorama Khedkar, the mother of IAS probationer Puja Khedkar. The police reported to the court that Manorama had placed a gun to the complainant’s head during a land dispute, and when she was about to pull the trigger, the complainant ducked while another accused restrained her, as detailed by the prosecutor.
The Pune Police sought a five-day custody for Manorama Khedkar, describing her, her husband Dilip, and three other accused as “influential and politically active.” This request was made during the court proceedings in Paud, where Manorama was remanded in custody until July 20, according to news agency PTI.
Earlier, Pune Rural Police detained Manorama Khedkar at a lodge in Mahad, Raigad district, and brought her to the Paud Police station. Superintendent of Police Pankaj Deshmukh confirmed her arrest.
Pandharinath Pasalkar, a 65-year-old farmer from Dhadwali, filed an FIR against Manorama, her husband Diliprao Khedkar, and several unidentified individuals under multiple sections of the IPC, including 323, 504, 506, 143, 144, 147, 148, and 149, as well as sections of the Arms Act. The police added Section 307 of the IPC following a video that surfaced, showing Manorama allegedly threatening individuals with a gun over a land dispute.
The police claimed that Manorama was uncooperative with the investigation, particularly regarding the location of Dilip Khedkar, the other accused, the firearm, and the vehicle involved. They argued that her custodial interrogation was necessary to confiscate the weapon and locate the other suspects.
Defense attorney Nikhil Malani contested the police’s request, arguing that Manorama had previously filed a case against the complainant and that the FIR’s additional charge of IPC Section 307 was an unexpected and unfair development. He claimed the addition of this serious charge was a reaction to recent social media exposure and characterized the case as a retaliatory move that surfaced 13 months after the alleged incident.
After hearing both arguments, the court decided to remand Manorama in police custody until July 20.
In related news, Puja Khedkar is under scrutiny for alleged discrepancies regarding disability and OBC certificates in her UPSC application and her behavior at the Pune collector’s office. The government has suspended her district training program, transferring her back to the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration for further action.
Additionally, the Pune Anti-Corruption Bureau has received a complaint requesting an open inquiry into alleged disproportionate assets held by Puja Khedkar’s father, Dilip Khedkar, a retired government official. The Nashik division of the ACB is already investigating this matter, and the Pune unit is seeking guidance on whether to incorporate the new complaint into the ongoing probe or conduct a separate inquiry.