Puja Khedkar’s Father Kidnapped Truck Driver To Compensate Car’s Damage: Police

Last Updated:September 15, 2025, 22:09 IST

Puja Khedkar’s family faces controversy after Dilip Khedkar and his bodyguard allegedly kidnapped Pralhad Kumar over a car collision.

Puja Khedkar, a 2022-batch IAS officer, was dismissed for alleged misuse of privileges. (File)

Suspended IAS officer Puja Khedkar’s family landed in fresh controversy after a missing truck driver, who was allegedly kidnapped, was rescued from their Pune residence.

Meanwhile, the police revealed that Puja’s father, Dilip Khedkar, and his bodyguard had kidnapped the truck driver, identified as 22-year-old Pralhad Kumar, because their luxury car had collided with the vehicle, and they wanted him to compensate for it, NDTV reported.

The case came into the limelight last week when the truck collided with a Land Cruiser, worth over Rs 2 crore, on the Mulund-Airoli road. The two men in the vehicle allegedly forced Kumar inside and took him nearly 150 km away to Khedkar’s residence in Pune, where he was allegedly held hostage and thrashed, the police said.

“Dilip Khedkar and his bodyguard were in the car when the accident occurred. They kidnapped the truck’s helper because they wanted him to compensate them for the damage caused to it," DCP Pankaj Dahane said as quoted by the news outlet.

The vehicle, a Toyota Land Cruiser, is registered under Puja Automobile, a business linked to the Khedkar family.

Earlier, a case was registered against Dilip’s wife, Manorama Khedkar, under Sections 221, 238 and 263 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at Chaturshrungi Police Station, after she misbehaved and set dogs on a police team that had gone to rescue the driver.

The incident took place during the investigation, when Navi Mumbai Police traced the vehicle involved in the kidnapping and reached the Khedkar residence. When the team attempted to enter, Manorama allegedly obstructed their entry and tried to help the accused escape.

Eventually, Pralhad Kumar was rescued from Khedkar’s house. Kumar, a resident of Mumbai, had lodged a complaint after being allegedly confined in a room.

Meanwhile, the police said Manorama created a scene by refusing to open the door and misbehaving with officers, which delayed the rescue operation. She has now been directed to appear before the Rabale Police for questioning.

Meanwhile, the two men, Dilip and the bodyguard, remain at large. A case has been registered against them under the relevant provisions of the BNS. The controversy comes amid mounting troubles for the Khedkar family, with Puja Khedkar already suspended earlier this year for alleged misuse of privileges.

Shobhit Gupta

Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben...Read More

Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben...

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