Pune: The court extended the police custody of Manorama D. Khedkar, mother of the controversial IAS-Probationary Officer Puja M.D. Khedkar, on Saturday by an additional two days.
During the hearing at the Paud Judicial Magistrate First Class Court, the police requested an extension of custody to further investigate the case, particularly to identify two other women allegedly involved, and to probe the roles of Sandeep Khedkar and an unidentified individual linked to the incident.
Manorama Khedkar's defence lawyer, Vijay Jagtap, argued against the extension, citing that the charge under Section 307 (attempt to murder) was unwarranted since no shots were fired. He contended that all other charges were bailable offences, highlighting that her husband, Dilip K. Khedkar, had already secured interim pre-arrest bail.
After considering both sides, the court decided to extend Manorama D. Khedkar's police remand for an additional two days. The recent developments included the recovery of the alleged pistol used in the incident and the seizure of her car.
The controversy surrounding Manorama D. Khedkar erupted after a video from July 2023 depicting her threatening farmers surfaced on social media. Following public outcry, both she and her husband went "missing," but she was eventually located and apprehended at a lodge in Mahad.
Meanwhile, their daughter, Puja M.D. Khedkar, an IAS-Probationary Officer, failed to appear at the Pune Police Commissionerate to address harassment allegations she had levelled against the Pune Collector, despite being summoned twice.
In a separate development, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) initiated criminal proceedings for fraud against Puja M.D. Khedkar with the Delhi Police, adding another layer of legal complexity to the family's ongoing issues.
The case has drawn significant attention due to the involvement of a public servant and the serious nature of the allegations. As investigations continue and legal proceedings unfold, the Khedkar family remains at the centre of a complex and controversial legal saga. IANS
Published: 20 Jul 2024, 09:59 pm IST
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