Pune: Before he and his wife Manorama became unreachable, trainee IAS official Puja Khedkar’s father, Dilip Khedkar, was questioned by the Pune Police Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in a corruption investigation. A charge has been filed against retired Maharashtra government officer Dilip Khedkar for possessing assets that are out of proportion to his income. Not long afterward, Dilip Khedkar and his sarpanch wife, Manorama Khedkar, stopped being approachable. The two have been charged with a video that shows Manorama Khedkar brandishing a firearm and threatening some individuals. Now, police are searching for them. Amidst the inquiry against 34-year-old Puja Khedkar, whose nomination as an IAS official has generated numerous doubts, the family’s assets have come under scrutiny.
Lawyer Tanaji Gambhir reportedly filed the case against Dilip Khedkar months ago and contacted them once more following the public outcry over the Puja Khedkar controversy. A few months ago, the ACB received a complaint against Dilip Khedkar, according to Atul Tambe, a senior officer in the Pune ACB. We have written a thorough report outlining our complaint and investigation. It is now being handled by Headquarters.” The Khedkars came under scrutiny after Maharashtra Chief Secretary Sujata Saunik received a letter from Pune district collector Suhas Diwase, pointing out that the trainee IAS officer was demanding benefits to which she was not entitled. That set off a chain reaction of discoveries. It soon became apparent that she had been chosen for the IAS after claiming her reservation as an OBC applicant and a person with a disability. She filed a report from a private facility and failed to appear for a medical examination to support her disability claim.
Examining grievances lodged against Dilip Khedkar
Between 300 and 400 small business owners in the Mumbai region accused Khedkar of generating needless difficulties for business owners and institutions and illegally extorting money from them when he served as the Mumbai Regional Office’s Regional Officer. On October 6, 2015, the state minister for industries, mining, environment, and public works forwarded these complaints to the chief minister. The board received an official registration of the complaint. While working at the Kolhapur Regional Office in March 2018, Dilip Khedkar was charged with extorting money to restore the water and power service. A complaint was made by the Kolhapur Saw Mill and Timber Merchant with the Kolhapur Deputy Superintendent of Police, Anti-Corruption Branch. The lawsuit claimed that Khedkar requested payments of Rs 25,000 and Rs 50,000, respectively, to reinstate the water and power supplies and remove the closure notices.
Suprabha Polymer and Packaging of Pune filed a complaint that same month, claiming that Khedkar sought a bribe of Rs 20 lakh but ultimately agreed to accept Rs 13 lakh. A preliminary investigation into this allegation was authorized by headquarters. Interestingly, on May 24, 2018, Khedkar was moved from the Kolhapur Regional Office to the Maitri Cell of the Maharashtra State Small Scale Industries Development Corporation, located in Mumbai. However, Khedkar chose not to accept the new role. He was gone for over seven months without authorization. Khedkar was suspended twice as a result of these incidents, and departmental investigations were opened against him. Khedkar possesses numerous properties in Ahmednagar, Pune, Mumbai, and Pune Rural. In his application for the 2024 Lok Sabha election, he said that he possesses properties and assets valued at approximately Rs 40 crore.
Examining grievances lodged against Dilip Khedkar
Between 300 and 400 small business owners in the Mumbai region accused Khedkar of generating needless difficulties for business owners and institutions and illegally extorting money from them when he served as the Mumbai Regional Office’s Regional Officer. On October 6, 2015, the state minister for industries, mining, environment, and public works forwarded these complaints to the chief minister. The board received an official registration of the complaint. Puja Khedkar Case: Pune DM’s statement regarding the harassment complaint will be recorded soon. While working at the Kolhapur Regional Office in March 2018, Dilip Khedkar was charged with extorting money to restore the water and power service. A complaint was made by the Kolhapur Saw Mill and Timber Merchant with the Kolhapur Deputy Superintendent of Police, Anti-Corruption Branch. The lawsuit claimed that Khedkar requested payments of Rs 25,000 and Rs 50,000, respectively, to reinstate the water and power supplies and remove the closure notices.
Sona Alloys Pvt. Ltd. said in March 2019 that Khedkar had intimidated them into accepting a bribe of Rs 50,000, which they felt was excessive. Suprabha Polymer and Packaging of Pune filed a complaint that same month, claiming that Khedkar sought a bribe of Rs 20 lakh but ultimately agreed to accept Rs 13 lakh. A preliminary investigation into this allegation was authorized by headquarters. Interestingly, on May 24, 2018, Khedkar was moved from the Kolhapur Regional Office to the Maitri Cell of the Maharashtra State Small Scale Industries Development Corporation, located in Mumbai. However, Khedkar chose not to accept the new role. He was gone for over seven months without authorization.
Leave a Reply