Khedkar Family Eludes Police Dragnet After Abduction Case, Devices Off and Transactions Halted

Navi Mumbai and Pune forces intensify search as sacked IAS officer’s kin vanish post-truck cleaner rescue

NewsArc Bureau

Navi Mumbai/Pune, September 17, 2025: Three days after a dramatic rescue operation freed a truck cleaner from the Pune residence of sacked IAS officer Puja Khedkar, police in Navi Mumbai and Pune are scrambling to locate her elusive family members. The Khedkars have reportedly gone off the radar, switching off their mobile phones and halting all online transactions since Sunday, prompting authorities to scour CCTV footage for clues about their escape route.

The manhunt stems from a road rage incident on September 13 at a Mulund-Airoli junction, where a concrete mixer truck grazed an SUV registered to Puja’s mother, Manorama Khedkar. An altercation ensued between the truck’s driver, Chandrakumar Chavan, and cleaner Prahlad Kumar, 22, from Turbhe MIDC, Navi Mumbai. The two occupants of the SUV—later identified as Puja’s father, Dilip Khedkar, a retired Maharashtra official with a history of electoral bids, and his bodyguard—forcibly took Kumar, claiming they were headed to a police station. When Chavan’s repeated calls went unanswered, truck owner Vilas Dherange filed a kidnapping complaint at Rabale police station, triggering the investigation.

Navi Mumbai police traced the SUV to the Khedkar bungalow in Pune, where Kumar was rescued on Sunday after officers scaled the walls following resistance from Manorama, who allegedly unleashed dogs to block entry. This led to separate FIRs: Navi Mumbai booked Dilip, Manorama, and the bodyguard for abduction, while Pune charged Manorama for obstructing the probe. The family’s subsequent disappearance has heightened suspicions, with a police official noting, “They’ve gone silent, and we’re analyzing CCTV around the property to identify their getaway vehicle.”

Authorities suspect the accused may seek anticipatory bail and remain fugitive until granted, prompting the deployment of multiple teams across both cities. The case has revived scrutiny on Puja Khedkar, dismissed last year by the Centre for falsifying OBC and disability claims to secure her IAS post, adding a layer of complexity to the ongoing pursuit. As the search intensifies, the Khedkar family’s next move remains a critical question for law enforcement.