Pune: A new development has emerged involving the Khedkar family, centering around Manorama Khedkar, the mother of Puja Khedkar.
According to a report by 'India Today,' Manorama issued a cheque of ₹12 lakh to BJP leader Pankaja Munde's Gopinath Foundation, accompanied by a photo of the cheque.
The Khedkar family has been actively involved in political maneuvers. Puja Khedkar’s father, Dilip Khedkar, and her uncle, Manik Khedkar, were ardent supporters of Pankaja Munde, hoping for her nomination to either the Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha.
Their dedication included a vow to the Mohatadevi temple, promising a silver crown weighing one and a half kilograms if Munde secured a nomination. Upon her successful Lok Sabha candidacy, they fulfilled this vow.
Manorama Khedkar, a former sarpanch of Bhalegaon, comes from a family with a background in public service, as her father was an administrative officer.
Local political dynamics in Bhalegaon, particularly opposition to BJP candidate Sujay Vikhe, resulted in Manik Khedkar losing his position as taluka head.
This led Dilip Khedkar to contest the elections under the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi, where he faced a significant defeat by a margin of 611,000 votes.
Pankaja Munde, despite facing political marginalization over the past five years, recently secured a seat in the legislative council. However, controversies involving Puja Khedkar may present new challenges for her.
Puja Khedkar, a trainee IAS officer from the 2023 batch, was transferred to Washim following allegations of misusing her authority, including pressuring senior officers, occupying a superior’s office cabin, and using a private car with a red beacon.
Investigations revealed that she obtained her position using a fraudulent OBC certificate despite owning significant assets. Additionally, she allegedly secured a fake disability certificate.
The opposition has called for a thorough investigation into these issues. Further controversy arose with reports of Manorama Khedkar threatening farmers in Mulshi with a firearm, resulting in criminal charges against her parents and a police notice to Manorama.
Additionally, Manorama has been implicated in illegal construction in Pune’s Baner area, attracting municipal notices.