Trainee IAS Officer Pooja Khedkar’s Mother Brandishes Gun and Threatens Farmers: Unveiling the Controversy.

Trainee IAS Officer Pooja Khedkar’s Mother Brandishes Gun and Threatens Farmers.

                        In a shocking revelation, trainee IAS officer Pooja Khedkar’s mother brandishes gun and threatens farmers in a video clip that has recently surfaced. This video, which is said to be at least a year old, shows Manorama Khedkar, Pooja Khedkar’s mother, verbally browbeating a man, presumably a farmer, with a pocket pistol in her hand. The timing of the video's emergence, coinciding with the Centre setting up a panel to probe trainee IAS officer Pooja Khedkar, has only added fuel to the fire.

The video clip that shows trainee IAS officer Pooja Khedkar’s mother brandishes gun and threatens farmers depicts a heated argument over a plot of land in Pune’s Mulshi tehsil. Ms. Manorama, accompanied by bouncers, is seen demanding land records from the farmer, asserting that the documents of the land bear her name. Despite the farmer’s protestations and his claim that the matter is in court, Ms. Manorama is heard warning him not to “teach her the rules,” implying that her claim stands regardless of legal proceedings.

As trainee IAS officer Pooja Khedkar’s mother brandishes gun and threatens farmers, allegations have surfaced regarding the Khedkar family’s land acquisitions. It is claimed that Pooja’s father, Deelip Khedkar, a retired government servant, amassed property worth crores, including 25 acres in Pune’s Mulshi taluk. Farmers who attempted to lodge complaints about Ms. Manorama’s high-handed behaviour found their efforts thwarted, with police allegedly refusing to file their complaints.

With trainee IAS officer Pooja Khedkar under scrutiny, the Pune Rural police have taken cognisance of the video showing her mother brandishing a gun and threatening farmers. Authorities are investigating the legitimacy of Ms. Manorama’s firearm licence, although her lawyer has confirmed that she possesses a legal permit and carried the weapon for her safety during the confrontation.

The controversy surrounding trainee IAS officer Pooja Khedkar’s mother brandishing gun and threatening farmers comes amid various allegations against Pooja herself. As a 2023 batch IAS officer, the 32-year-old Pooja Khedkar has been accused of seeking special privileges, including a separate office, house, car, and staff before taking charge as an assistant collector—benefits not typically afforded to trainee officers. Additionally, she has been criticised for using a ‘Government of Maharashtra’ sticker and a red-blue beacon on her private luxury sedan while on probation in Pune. Furthermore, there are allegations that she faked a mental illness to obtain a disability certificate and appeared for the UPSC exam under the visually impaired category.

In light of these controversies, the Central government has established a single-member committee to examine the allegations surrounding trainee IAS officer Pooja Khedkar. When approached by reporters, Pooja, who has been transferred from Pune to Washim amid the allegations, declined to comment, stating, “I am not authorised to say anything to the media. I will make my submission before the committee. I will follow the procedure.”

Compounding the issues is a report from the Navi Mumbai Police to the Maharashtra government, detailing an incident where trainee IAS officer Pooja Khedkar allegedly attempted to pressure a Deputy Commissioner of Police to release a man held in a theft case. On May 18, Pooja is said to have called DCP Vivek Pansare, urging him to release Ishwar Uttarwade, a transporter arrested for theft, asserting his innocence and describing the charges as “minor.” Despite her insistence, the police did not act on her request, and Uttarwade remains in judicial custody.

Adding to trainee IAS officer Pooja Khedkar’s woes, her car, allegedly bearing an unauthorised State government insignia, has been moved from the family’s residence in Pune following a notice from the city traffic police. Pooja has been fined more than Rs. 27,000 for traffic violations, further tarnishing her image.

The saga of trainee IAS officer Pooja Khedkar’s mother brandishing gun and threatening farmers, combined with the myriad of allegations against Pooja, paints a grim picture of misuse of power and privileges. As the investigation unfolds, it remains to be seen what repercussions these actions will have on Pooja Khedkar’s career and the Khedkar family’s standing.