The father of sacked IAS officer Puja Khedkar, Dilip Khedkar, and his bodyguard have been accused of kidnapping a truck helper after a collision between their luxury SUV and the truck. The incident occurred in Airoli, Navi Mumbai, where Dilip Khedkar's Land Cruiser, reportedly worth over ₹2 crore, was involved in an accident with a cement mixer truck.
Following the collision, Dilip Khedkar and his bodyguard allegedly forced Prahlad Kumar, a helper on the truck, into their car and took him to their Pune residence. Police reports indicate that Kumar was held against his will and allegedly thrashed. The accused allegedly wanted Kumar to compensate them for the damage to their SUV.
After the truck owner filed a complaint, police initiated an investigation and located the Khedkar residence in the Chatushringi area of Pune. Upon arriving at the scene, police faced resistance from Puja Khedkar's mother, Manorama Khedkar, who reportedly misbehaved with the police team and released a dog on them. Despite the obstruction, police successfully rescued Kumar from the house.
The Khedkars initially assured the police that they would cooperate with the investigation. However, when police returned to their home the following morning, the family was missing. Authorities believe that Dilip Khedkar and his wife, Manorama, are currently evading authorities.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Pankaj Dahane stated that Dilip Khedkar and his bodyguard were in the car when the accident happened, and they abducted the truck's helper because they wanted him to pay for the damages to the vehicle.
The case has sparked considerable attention, especially given Puja Khedkar's background as a former IAS officer. Further investigations are underway, with authorities actively searching for the Khedkar couple.