Khedkar Family Under Scrutiny as Father Denies Road Rage Abduction Claims

Dilip Khedkar, father of former IAS probationer Puja Khedkar, has vehemently denied allegations of kidnapping a truck driver following a road rage incident in Pune. The accusations, which have sparked widespread attention, are "completely false," according to Dilip, who insists there is no evidence to support claims of an assault or abduction.

The incident reportedly began last month on Mulund-Airoli Road when a concrete mixer truck, driven by 22-year-old Prahlad Kumar, slightly collided with a Land Cruiser occupied by Dilip Khedkar and his bodyguard. What followed, according to police reports, was a heated confrontation that escalated dramatically. Authorities allege that Dilip and his bodyguard forcibly took the truck driver to the Khedkar family bungalow, purportedly to demand compensation for minor damage to their luxury vehicle.

Police investigations paint a chaotic scene. When officers traced Kumar’s location to the Khedkar residence, they were met with resistance from Manorama Khedkar, Puja’s mother, who allegedly barred them from entering the premises. Manorama reportedly promised to produce Dilip and the bodyguard at Pune’s Chatushringi police station by 3 PM that day. Trusting her assurance, the police left, only to be left hanging when she failed to follow through.

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The plot thickened when officers returned to the bungalow later that day. The Land Cruiser involved in the incident was gone, and both Dilip and the bodyguard had vanished. Adding to the drama, Manorama allegedly unleashed two aggressive dogs to deter the police from entering the property. Despite these obstacles, the truck driver was eventually rescued, but Manorama had also fled the scene by the time police returned the following day.

Both Dilip and Manorama Khedkar have since been granted anticipatory bail in the case, adding fuel to the public’s fascination with the family’s mounting controversies. Manorama, addressing the media earlier this month, claimed she is being unfairly targeted by the authorities. “I am fully cooperating with the police investigation, yet I am being accused and targeted,” she stated. “I have not committed any crime, so there is nothing to fear. I have no involvement in this.”

The Khedkar family is no stranger to the spotlight. Puja Khedkar, once a promising IAS probationer, was thrust into the headlines in 2024 when she faced scrutiny for alleged misuse of power and falsifying details in her UPSC candidature. The family’s troubles deepened when a viral video surfaced showing Manorama brandishing a firearm during a heated land dispute, leading to her brief arrest. These incidents have only amplified public and media interest in the family’s actions, with many questioning whether the kidnapping allegations are another chapter in their controversial story or, as they claim, a case of mistaken identity and false accusations.

Dilip Khedkar remains steadfast in his defense, arguing that if an assault had occurred, there would be medical evidence to substantiate it. “All the allegations are baseless,” he reiterated. “Nothing like what has been claimed actually happened. The driver was merely a helper, and no such assault took place.”As the investigation continues, the public remains divided. Are the Khedkars victims of a targeted campaign, as they suggest, or are they entangled in yet another scandal of their own making? With the family’s history of high-profile disputes, this case is unlikely to fade from the headlines anytime soon.

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