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New Delhi: Navi Mumbai police rescued a 22-year-old truck driver, Prahlad Kumar, on Sunday from the Pune residence of sacked IAS officer Puja Khedkar, followed by an alleged road rage incident. The police, thereafter, also issued a summons to Khedekar's mother for obstructing law enforcement during the rescue operation.
The incident reportedly occurred on September 13, around 7 pm, at a traffic signal on Mulund-Airoli Road in the Airoli area. Kumar, who is a resident of Turbhe MIDC in Navi Mumbai, was driving his concrete mixer truck when it collided with an SUV. Two individuals from the SUV allegedly confronted Kumar and forced him into the vehicle. They eventually fled the scene.
The Rabale police registered an FIR and began an investigation. According to reports, it was discovered that Kumar was taken to Pune. During the investigation, police tracked the vehicle involved in the incident to Pune, where it was found parked at the residence of the suspended officer in the Chatushringi area. The team successfully rescued the kidnapped driver, Prahlad Kumar from the premises, despite facing resistance from Khedkar's mother. Kumar was safely brought back to Navi Mumbai.
According to reports, Manorama Khedkar, mother of the sacked IAS officer caused a commotion by refusing to open the door and misbehaving with officers. It delayed the rescue operation. She has now been summoned by Rabale Police for questioning. Chaturshrungi Police, meanwhile, is pursuing a separate case against her for allegedly obstructing government officials in their duties.
Puja Khedkar, who came into the national spotlight last year, was dismissed from the Indian Administrative Services (IAS) by the Union government in September 2024. Her dismissal was followed by the cancellation of her selection by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). The Commission found her guilty of cheating and improperly availing benefits under the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and disability quotas.
The UPSC had also determined that Khedkar faked her identity to take the civil services examination multiple times. It ultimately barred Khedkar from appearing in the exam for life.
