Former IAS probationer Puja Khedkar, who was sacked from service following allegations of cheating and forging certificates, has landed in fresh trouble after a truck driver, who had gone missing after a road rage incident, was traced to her home in Pune.
According to police, Prahlad Kumar was driving a mixer truck when the vehicle brushed against a car near the Airoli signal in Navi Mumbai on Saturday evening.
An altercation erupted between Kumar and the two persons on board the sports utility vehicle. The duo then forcibly took Kumar in their vehicle under the pretext of taking him to a police station and fled the spot, an official said.
The Rabale police registered a case under section 137(2) (kidnapping) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against two unidentified persons based on a complaint from the truck owner.
During their investigation, police found the car at the house of Puja in the Chatushringi area of Pune. They also rescued the truck driver from her home.
Police said Puja’s mother, Manorama Khedkar, misbehaved with them and prevented them from entering the house. They have issued a summons, asking her to appear before the investigators for detailed questioning.
Rabale Kidnapping Case – Obstruction by Puja Khedkar’s Mother!
— Vijay Kumbhar (@VijayKumbhar62) September 15, 2025
During the investigation into the Rabale kidnapping, police found clear evidence that the accused and the crime vehicle – a Land Cruiser (MH 12 RP 5000) – were hidden inside the Pune residence of Manorama Dilip… pic.twitter.com/Uw7JNENmSS
The Central government had discharged Puja from service in September 2024 under Rule 12 of IAS (Probation) Rules, 1954.
The 2023-batch officer is accused of misrepresenting herself under the physical disabilities category to qualify the exam and later abusing her position. She also allegedly submitted a fake Other Backward Class (OBC) certificate.
The UPSC has cancelled the provisional candidature of Khedkar and also debarred her from all future examinations or selections.
The Delhi Police have filed an FIR against Puja and are investigating the case.
