National

Father of Puja Khedkar Booked for Threatening Public Servant in Pune

Police have registered a case against Dilip Khedkar, the father of former probationary IAS officer Puja Khedkar, on charges of threatening and obstructing a public servant in the discharge of duty in Pune district.

The case was filed at the Bundgarden police station based on a complaint lodged by a tehsildar-rank officer from the Pune district collectorate.

According to the complaint, during Puja Khedkar’s posting as an assistant collector, Dilip Khedkar allegedly used threatening language against tehsildar Dipak Akade, demanding a cabin for his daughter despite having no right to interfere in administrative functions.

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) recently cancelled the selection of Puja Khedkar and permanently debarred her from all future exams and selections. She is currently untraceable after an FIR was registered against her in Delhi for allegedly ‘misrepresenting information’ in her application for the UPSC Civil Services Examination, 2022.

The 2023 batch officer is also accused of misusing power and privileges by demanding perks and facilities she was not entitled to during her training at the Pune district collectorate.

“After receiving the complaint from the district administration, we registered a case against Dilip Khedkar under sections 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of his public functions), 504 (intentional insult), and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC),” a senior official of the Pune police said. The incident occurred in June this year.

Dilip Khedkar, a retired government official, was also booked in a case of criminal intimidation filed by the Paud police in Pune, in which his wife Manorama was accused of brandishing a gun at a person in the Mulshi area over a land dispute. Dilip Khedkar was granted anticipatory bail in that case, while his wife Manorama, who was arrested by Pune rural police, was recently released on bail by the court.