'Locked up, death threats', alleges truck cleaner 'kidnapped' by sacked IAS officer Puja Khedkar's father

Former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) trainee officer Puja Khedkar

The truck cleaner at the center of the alleged abduction case involving former IAS probationer Puja Khedkar’s family has said he was confined, fed stale food, and threatened with death after being taken from Navi Mumbai to Pune, according to NDTV.

The victim, 22-year-old Pralhad Kumar Chauhan, recounted that he was stopped on September 13 following a minor road accident on the Mulund–Airoli Road, when a concrete mixer truck brushed against a Land Cruiser. What began as an argument between the truck’s occupants and the SUV’s passengers escalated into a demand for money, police said.

Chauhan later told investigators, “I was kidnapped by Puja Khedkar’s father, Dilip Khedkar, and their driver-cum-bodyguard, Praful Salunkhe. They told me they were taking me to the police station, but on the way they snatched my phone and ordered me to remain quiet.”

Instead of reaching a police station, he said, he was taken to the Khedkars’ bungalow in Pune. “They threatened to kill me if the truck owner did not pay them compensation,” Chauhan added. He was allegedly locked in a room reserved for watchmen and served stale food during his captivity.

According to Assistant Commissioner of Police Rahul Dhas, “The accused persons confined Chouhan in a watchman’s room, served him stale food and threatened him with dire consequences if he did not pay for the damages.”

Police sources said that Manorama Khedkar, Puja’s mother, gave away the room keys, removed CCTV cameras, and later obstructed officers when they arrived at the bungalow to rescue the truck cleaner. Pune Police have since booked her separately for obstruction and issued her a notice.

The Navi Mumbai police eventually traced and freed Chauhan. Soon after, they arrested driver-bodyguard Praful Salunkhe from Sindhkhed in Dhule on Friday. Deputy Commissioner of Police Pankaj Dahane confirmed, “He was produced before the court, which sent him in police custody till September 23.” However, Dilip and Manorama Khedkar, along with another accused, are still absconding.

The Rabale police had initially registered a case under section 137(2) (kidnapping) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). A senior officer later explained, “We have added sections 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt), 127(7) (wrongful confinement for extortion) and 308(4) (extortion).”

Beyond this case, Puja Khedkar herself remains under a cloud of controversy. She is accused of misrepresenting her background in the 2022 UPSC civil services examination to wrongly claim reservation benefits — charges she has denied. The Union Public Service Commission has lodged a criminal case against her for allegedly attempting the exam under a false identity, while Delhi Police have also registered an FIR.

This isn’t the first controversy linked to the Khedkars. Last year, a video surfaced showing Manorama Khedkar threatening a farmer. She was arrested following that incident and later released on bail.

With inputs from PTI