• Trainee IAS officer Puja Khedkar's mother detained for brandishing gun

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    Trainee IAS officer Puja Khedkar's mother detained for brandishing gun

    Pune Commissioner of Police Amitesh Kumar issued the notice to Puja Khedkar's mother after a viral video showed Manorama Khedkar, the Sarpanch of Bhalgaon village in Ahmednagar, brandishing a pistol during a heated argument.

    Digital Desk: Maharashtra's Pune police detained Manorama Khedkar, mother of IAS trainee Puja Khedkar, from Mahad on Thursday morning, according to Pankaj Deshmukh, SP of Pune Rural Police. Earlier, Manorama Khedkar had received a show-cause notice from Pune Police on June 13 regarding the misuse of a licensed gun.

    Pune Commissioner of Police Amitesh Kumar issued the notice to Puja Khedkar's mother after a viral video showed Manorama Khedkar, the Sarpanch of Bhalgaon village in Ahmednagar, brandishing a pistol during a heated argument. She was given 10 days to respond. A case under the Arms Act has been registered against her in the Pune rural police jurisdiction based on a complaint from a local farmer who alleged threats by Manorama Khedkar and others.

    On Wednesday, Pune police also issued a notice to Puja Khedkar, a probationary IAS officer, requesting her presence to record a statement regarding her harassment complaint against Pune District Collector Suhas Diwase. Khedkar is scheduled to provide her statement on Thursday. This development follows Puja Khedkar's complaint with the Washim police, which resulted in her removal from the District Training Programme of the Maharashtra State Government on Tuesday. She has been recalled to the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) in Mussoorie, suspending her training.

    In a communication from Nitin Gadre, Additional Chief Secretary (P), it was stated, "LBSNAA, Mussoorie has decided to keep your district training programme on hold and immediately recall you for further necessary action." Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar criticized the administrative handling of the situation, noting a lack of dialogue compared to previous instances.

    Meanwhile, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Pune has initiated an inquiry into Puja Khedkar's father, Dilip Khedkar, regarding alleged unaccounted wealth. Puja Khedkar, who secured an All India rank of 821 in the UPSC exams, faces accusations of misusing her authority. Pune Police are also investigating the usage of an Audi car associated with Khedkar, with Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar confirming actions under the Motor Vehicles Act and the clearance of pending fines on the vehicle.