Truck Driver Abduction: Probe Into How Puja Khedkar's Mother Helped Husband, His Bodyguard Flee

Last Updated:September 18, 2025, 16:25 IST

Police said they have maintained surveillance outside the bungalow for 24 hours. The truck driver was allegedly abducted and brought here by Puja Khedkar's father Dilip Khedkar

Police said the residence of Manorama Khedkar was searched in the presence of a lawyer. (Image: News18/video grab)

Police are now investigating the role of sacked IAS officer Puja Khedkar’s mother in helping her husband and his bodyguard escape from their house in Pune after the duo allegedly abducted a truck driver following a road rage incident in Navi Mumbai.

According to the police, the residence of Manorama Khedkar, Puja’s Khedkar’s mother, was searched in the presence of a lawyer.

The police said they have maintained surveillance outside the bungalow in Baner for 24 hours. The truck driver was abducted and brought to this house by Manorama’s husband Dilip Khedkar, they said.

Navi Mumbai police officials said Dilip Khedkar and his bodyguard, identified as Praful Salunkhe, are on the run along with the vehicle involved in the road rage incident. Manorama, who allegedly prevented police personnel from entering the family house in Pune, has also gone into hiding, they said.

The abducted driver, identified as 22-year-old Prahlad Kumar, was rescued from the Khedkars’ home on September 14 within hours of his abduction the day before in the evening.

WHY WAS THE TRUCK DRIVER ABDUCTED?

Officials said Prahlad Kumar, who was driving a concrete mixer truck, grazed Dilip’s Land Cruiser on Mulund-Airoli Road in Navi Mumbai. This sparked an argument between him and the two occupants of the SUV, they said.

They said Dilip and Salunkhe allegedly bundled up Kumar into the SUV and took him to their bungalow in Pune. DCP (Zone I in Navi Mumbai) Pankaj Dahane said the driver was abducted in a bid to get compensation for the damage caused to the SUV.

WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THE ABDUCTION?

When the police tried to enter the bungalow on September 14, Manorama allegedly blocked them and assured them that she would bring the two accused to the Chatushringi police station in Pune by 3 pm. Believing her, the cops left but she later allegedly refused to bring them to the police station.

When they returned to the bungalow, they found the two accused missing along with the SUV involved in the road rage incident, the police said. Not only did Manorama help the accused escape, but unleashed two ferocious dogs inside the gate to scare the police team, they said.

A case was registered against Manorama under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Section 221 (obstructing a public servant in discharge of duties).

Police found Manorama missing when they once again visited the bungalow on the afternoon of September 15, they said.

“Since no one was present to open the main gate, police personnel jumped over the iron gate and entered the premises. However, Manorama Khedkar was not found inside," Uttam Bhajanwale, senior inspector of Chatushringi police station, told PTI.

News Desk

The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d...Read More

The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d...

Read More

News india Truck Driver Abduction: Probe Into How Puja Khedkar's Mother Helped Husband, His Bodyguard Flee

Read More