Puja Khedkar's Father Goes Into Hiding After Kidnapping Truck Driver
The father of former IAS probationer Puja Khedkar and his bodyguard, accused of abducting a truck driver in an SUV after a road rage incident in Navi Mumbai, remain missing with the vehicle since Sunday, a Navi Mumbai Police official said.
- Date & Time:
- |
- Views: 23
- |
- From: India News Bull
Puja Khedkar's mother, Manorama, has also disappeared from authorities. (File)
Thane:
The father of former IAS probationer Puja Khedkar and his bodyguard have vanished with their vehicle since Sunday after being accused of kidnapping a truck driver following a road rage incident in Navi Mumbai, according to a Navi Mumbai Police official.
Manorama Khedkar, Puja's mother who reportedly prevented police from entering their family residence in Pune a day earlier, has also disappeared, the official confirmed on Tuesday.
The kidnapped driver, 22-year-old Prahlad Kumar, was successfully rescued from the Khedkar residence on Sunday, just hours after his abduction on Saturday evening.
According to an official from Rabale police station in Navi Mumbai, the incident occurred on the Mulund-Airoli Road when Kumar's concrete mixer truck scraped against a Land Cruiser, triggering an altercation with the SUV's occupants.
The two individuals in the SUV were identified as Dilip Khedkar (Puja Khedkar's father) and his bodyguard, Praful Salunkhe. They allegedly forced Kumar into their vehicle and transported him to Puja Khedkar's bungalow.
DCP Pankaj Dahane (Zone I in Navi Mumbai) stated on Tuesday that the driver was abducted in an attempt to secure compensation for damages to the SUV.
"Police have been unable to locate the two vehicle occupants thus far," he added.
On Sunday, Manorama Khedkar prevented law enforcement officers from entering the property located in Pune's Baner area.
A police officer stated that Manorama had promised to bring the two accused individuals to Chatushringi police station in Pune by 3 pm on Sunday.
"Trusting her statement, the police team departed. However, when they called her around 3 pm, she refused to come and told them to do whatever they wanted," the official explained.
When police returned to the residence, they discovered the vehicle involved in the crime had disappeared.
Manorama allegedly facilitated the removal of the car, helped the accused escape, and released two aggressive dogs inside the gate to intimidate the police team, according to the official.
Based on a complaint filed by a Navi Mumbai police officer, authorities have registered a case against Manorama under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including section 221 (obstructing a public servant in discharge of duties).
A combined team from Pune Police and Navi Mumbai Police visited the bungalow again on Monday afternoon, only to find Manorama Khedkar missing.
"Since no one was present to open the main gate, officers scaled the iron gate to enter the premises. However, Manorama Khedkar was not found inside," said Uttam Bhajanawale, senior police inspector of Chatushringi police station.