A road rage incident in Navi Mumbai has led to the alleged kidnapping of a truck driver, Prahlad Kumar, and implicated the family of former IAS probationer Puja Khedkar. The incident has resulted in an FIR against Khedkar's mother, Manorama Khedkar, for allegedly obstructing the police investigation.

On Saturday evening, the incident unfolded on Mulund-Airoli Road when Kumar's concrete mixer truck reportedly brushed against a Land Cruiser. This led to an argument between Kumar and two occupants of the SUV. According to police reports, the SUV occupants, identified as Dilip Khedkar (Puja's father) and his bodyguard, Praful Salunkhe, forced Kumar into their vehicle under the guise of taking him to the police station. Instead, they allegedly took him to Manorama Khedkar's bungalow in Pune.

Following a complaint from the truck owner, Rabale Police registered a kidnapping case against two unidentified individuals. Utilizing technical analysis, the police tracked the SUV to Pune. On Sunday, a police team arrived at the Khedkar residence in Pune to rescue Kumar. However, Manorama Khedkar allegedly obstructed their entry, leading to a heated exchange. Reports indicate that she even unleashed dogs to scare the police. Despite the obstruction, the police team eventually entered the premises, rescued Kumar, and brought him back to Navi Mumbai.

Consequences for the Khedkar family are mounting. Pune police have registered a case against Manorama Khedkar for obstructing public servants from performing their duty. Additionally, Navi Mumbai Police are adding the names of Dilip Khedkar and Praful Salunkhe to the FIR related to the kidnapping. Manorama Khedkar has been summoned for questioning as part of the ongoing investigation.

This is not the first time the Khedkar family has been embroiled in controversy. Puja Khedkar has been accused of misrepresenting facts in her application for the 2022 UPSC civil services examination to avail herself of reservation benefits. She has refuted these allegations. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has initiated actions against her, including lodging a criminal case for allegedly using a fake identity to take the civil services exam. Furthermore, the Delhi Police had previously filed an FIR against her for various offenses. A past video also surfaced of Manorama Khedkar allegedly threatening farmers, leading to her arrest and subsequent release on bail.

As of Monday, police reported that the accused and the SUV were missing from the Khedkar residence. A police team that revisited the bungalow found no family members present. The investigation is ongoing to identify the kidnappers' motives and to gather further evidence in the case.