Navi Mumbai Police have arrested the driver of Dilip Khedkar, father of ex-IAS probationer Puja Khedkar, in the recent road rage and kidnapping case in the city.
The accused driver has been identified as Prafulla Salunkhe, who was arrested from Sindkhed in Maharashtra’s Dhule district after being on the run for six days along with Khedkar.
According to Assistant Commissioner of Police, Rahul Dhas, Salunkhe has been remanded to police custody till September 24.
Meanwhile, the hunt continues for prime accused Dilip Khedkar, his wife Manorama Khedkar, and another unidentified suspect.
As part of their investigation into the case, police registered the case under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
The case pertains to an altercation that took place on September 13, when a concrete mixer truck driven by the victim, Prahlad Kumar, allegedly brushed against a Toyota Land Cruiser belonging to Dilip Khedkar.
Following the incident, Khedkar and Salunkhe abducted Kumar, taking him to Pune rather than to a police station as claimed.
Authorities stated that after the initial argument, Kumar was forcibly taken from Navi Mumbai to a bungalow in Pune owned by Manorama Khedkar.
Police have yet to recover the vehicle used in the kidnapping, and further inquiries are ongoing.
MANORAMA KHEDKAR DISRUPTED PROBE
Investigators believe Manorama Khedkar played a role in the episode, allegedly releasing dogs to obstruct police and facilitating the escape of her husband and Salunkhe.
During the police operation at the Pune bungalow, officers were initially unable to enter, as Manorama Khedkar refused to open the gate.
The abducted person, Kumar, was eventually rescued by police after being held inside the house.
To enter the property and rescue Kumar, police had to force their way inside. “Since no one was present to open the main gate, police personnel jumped over the iron gate and entered the premises. However, Manorama Khedkar was not found inside,” police said.
Knowing that police were outside, Kumar was released and the gate of the bungalow was slammed shut,” a Chatushringi police station officer said.
The ongoing investigation has led to notices and cases being filed against Manorama Khedkar for obstructing police operations.
WHO IS PUJA KHEDKAR?
Puja Khedkar, a 2023-batch IAS officer of the Maharashtra cadre, hit the headlines in 2024 after she was transferred from Pune to Washim over her inappropriate demands and indiscipline.
She had also unauthorisedly installed a beacon and Maharashtra state government insignia on her luxury Audi car.
Puja was also accused of wrongfully availing Other Backward Class (OBC) benefits as well as disability concessions to secure her position in the Indian Administrative Service (IAS).
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