Truck Driver Abducted; Rescued from IAS Probationary Officer Puja Khedkar's Pune Residence
Pune, 15 September 2025: IAS Probationary Officer Puja Khedkar is back in the spotlight, and once again, it's for unfavorable reasons. In an unexpected turn of events, she has been charged with abducting a man from the Navi Mumbai region and forcibly holding him at her home in Pune's Bavdhan area.
The Navi Mumbai Police team saved the driver following a dispute, as reported by Chaturshringi Police. A video capturing this disagreement is now being shared on social media. Chaturshringi Police mentioned that Rabale Police have been notified and will proceed with further measures.
According to PTI, Police reported on Monday that a truck driver, allegedly abducted by two people in an SUV after a road rage incident in Navi Mumbai, has been located at the home of former IAS probationer Puja Khedkar in Pune.
The Pune police have filed a case against Puja Khedkar's mother, Manorama Khedkar, for allegedly hindering the police's efforts to enter the house in search of the driver on Sunday. Puja Khedkar is also facing accusations of fraud and improperly obtaining OBC and disability quota advantages in the civil services examination.
About the Abduction
A 22-year-old concrete mixer truck driver was allegedly abducted on the Mulund-Airoli road in Navi Mumbai after his vehicle brushed against an SUV on Saturday evening around 7:30 p.m. Following an argument, the SUV occupants forced him into their car, claiming they were taking him to a police station, and fled the scene, police said.
According to PTI, the Rabale Police in Navi Mumbai filed a case under section 137(2) (kidnapping) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against two unknown individuals on Sunday, following a complaint from the truck owner.
Kidnapped Truck Driver Rescued from Khedkar's Pune Bungalow
The SUV involved in the incident was traced to Pune using technical evidence, revealing that the kidnapped truck driver, Kumar, had been taken there. A Navi Mumbai police team visited the location on Sunday and found him at a bungalow owned by Puja Khedkar. Her mother, Manorama Khedkar, initially blocked police entry and argued with them, but they eventually rescued Kumar and brought him back to Navi Mumbai.
Manorama Khedkar was booked by Pune's Chatushrungi police for obstructing public servants, based on a complaint from Rabale police. She has also been summoned for questioning. The investigation to identify the kidnappers and their motive is ongoing, officials said.
Puja Khedkar’s Past Row Over Misuse of Power
Puja Khedkar is accused of submitting misleading details in her 2022 UPSC civil services exam application to benefit from reservation privileges. She has refuted all the charges. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has initiated various actions against Khedkar, including lodging a criminal case, for allegedly using a fake identity to attempt the civil services exam. Additionally, the Delhi Police have filed an FIR against her for several offenses, as reported by PTI.
