The Navi Mumbai road rage case involving the Khedkar family has taken a sensational turn, with police revealing shocking details of abduction, obstruction of justice, and intimidation. According to officials, Dilip Khedkar, the father of former IAS probationer Puja Khedkar, and his bodyguard, Praful Salunkhe, allegedly kidnapped a 22-year-old truck driver named Prahlad Kumar after his concrete mixer brushed against their Land Cruiser in Navi Mumbai. What began as a heated roadside argument on Saturday evening quickly escalated into a criminal episode that has now drawn nationwide attention.
Police investigations show that Kumar was forcibly taken in the SUV and transported to the Pune bungalow of Puja’s mother, Manorama Khedkar. It was here, officials say, that Manorama allegedly played a crucial role in enabling the accused to evade law enforcement. When a joint team of Navi Mumbai and Pune Police arrived at the bungalow to rescue the victim, Manorama allegedly blocked their entry, promised cooperation, and then reneged on her word. Officers reported that she later unleashed two aggressive dogs inside the gate to intimidate them, while also ensuring that both Dilip Khedkar and his bodyguard fled the premises along with the SUV involved in the crime.
The police eventually managed to scale the locked gates, enter the property, and rescue Kumar, who confirmed during questioning that he had been abducted and confined by Dilip Khedkar and Salunkhe. However, by then, the prime accused had vanished. While Kumar was safely returned to Navi Mumbai, the authorities registered separate cases against the Khedkar family members: one against Dilip and his bodyguard for kidnapping under the provisions of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita, and another against Manorama for obstructing police duties and aiding the escape of the accused.
On Sunday, when officers initially confronted Manorama at the bungalow, she allegedly assured them that she would present her husband and his bodyguard at the police station by 3 pm. Trusting her word, the team withdrew temporarily. But when contacted later, she reportedly dismissed the promise and told police to “do whatever they wanted to.” When officers returned, they found the vehicle gone and the accused missing, leaving only the property’s caretaker inside.
The incident has intensified scrutiny on the Khedkar family, which is already under a cloud of controversy. Puja Khedkar herself has been embroiled in a high-profile scandal, facing accusations of misusing the OBC and disability quota to clear the 2022 UPSC civil services examination. She has denied all allegations, but the series of controversies surrounding her family has further eroded public perception.
Police from both Navi Mumbai and Pune are now coordinating efforts to trace the absconding accused. Meanwhile, Manorama has been booked for her role in obstructing justice, though she too remains untraceable. The case underscores not only the criminal charges against Dilip Khedkar and his bodyguard but also highlights a disturbing misuse of power and intimidation tactics by a family already under public and legal scrutiny.
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