A video of controversial probationary IAS officer Puja Khedkar's mother allegedly threatening farmers with a pistol in Pune's Mulshi tehsil over a parcel of land has gone viral. The video was purportedly shot in 2023.
The Khedkar family, which has properties across Maharashtra, had purchased 25 acres of land in Mulshi tehsil of Pune. A part of it allegedly encroached upon the land of neighbouring farmers.
When the farmers objected to this, Khedkar's mother Manorama reached the spot with a bouncer and threatened the farmers with a pistol. In the video, Manorama claims that the land was in her name.
She also claims that the 'Saat-Baara-Utara', a document maintained by the revenue department of the state for tax collection purposes, was also in her name. The document is issued by the tehsildar or the concerned land authority.
A person, presumably a farmer, then says that the matter was in court.
"You may be the real owner... but this place is also in my name... So what if the matter is in court? I will see how you take everything. I am not afraid of anyone," Manorama replies.
"But madam, the court's decision has not come yet. I am still the real owner of this place," the person says.
Puja Khedkar recently hit the headlines after she was transferred from Pune to Washim district over complaints about her conduct during her probation period.
She also allegedly made demands for a separate office, an official car and unauthorised use of a beacon and insignia on her private Audi car. Such privileges are not allowed for a probation officer.
Khedkar, however, did not stop at this. The trainee officer also occupied the chamber of additional collector Ajay More when he was away and put up a board with her name.
Apart from her conduct, there are also allegations that she misused the disability provision and Other Backward Class (OBC) quota to become an IAS officer.
The Centre has constituted a single-member panel "to verify the candidature" of the 2023-batch IAS officer of the Maharashtra cadre.
