Mumbai, July 15: The Pune Police is hunting for seven people, including trainee IAS officer Pooja Khedkar’s mother Manorama and father Dilip, in connection with threatening a farmer in Pune. All of them have been booked at Daund police station in Pune, after which all have gone underground.
Pune Rural SP Pankaj Deshmukh said on Monday, “The accused have fled. We are trying to contact them but they are not available as their phones are switched off. We also reached their homes but they are not available.”
Deshmukh said that police teams are looking for Khedkar’s parents. He said, “Several teams, including officials from the local crime branch and local police stations, are looking for them in some farmhouses and residences in Pune and nearby places. When they are found, we will question them and take action accordingly.”
It is noteworthy that Manorama and Dilip Khedkar are among the seven people who have been booked on the basis of a complaint by a local farmer. The farmer has claimed that he has been threatened by Manorama Khedkar, the mother of the probationary IAS officer. In a video that went viral recently, Manorama was seen brandishing a gun and threatening villagers in Mulshi tehsil of Pune district.
According to the police, the video was recorded in June 2023. After investigation, a case was registered against the accused under sections 323, 504, 506, 143, 144, 147, 148 and 149 of the Indian Penal Code and section 3 (25) of the Arms Act.
However, the family has claimed through its lawyer that the gun seen in the video was used to prevent the argument from escalating further and in self-defense. They said also said that they have all the valid permissions to keep weapons.
