Police Find Missing Truck Driver at Ex-IAS Officer Puja Khedkar’s Pune Residence

Missing Truck Driver Found at Dismissed IAS Officer Puja Khedkar’s Pune Residence.

Fresh controversy has erupted around sacked IAS officer Puja Khedkar after Pune Police rescued a missing truck driver from her residence in the Chatushringi area. According to police, the incident began when a mixer truck collided with a car at Navi Mumbai’s Airoli signal. The truck driver, identified as Prahlad Kumar, went missing soon after. Witnesses told police that two men from the car forced Kumar into their vehicle and drove away.

Investigators later traced the car, bearing registration number MH 12 RT 5000, to Khedkar’s Pune home. During a raid, police rescued the kidnapped driver, who was found inside the premises. The operation, however, faced resistance. Police alleged that Khedkar’s mother, Manorama Khedkar, refused to cooperate, obstructed the raid, and misbehaved with officers. She has since been issued a summons for questioning.

Puja Khedkar, once selected for the Indian Administrative Service, was dismissed in September 2024 after the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) found her guilty of fraudulently availing OBC and disability quota benefits. She has also been permanently barred from appearing for the civil services examination.

Police said further investigation is underway into how the missing driver ended up at Khedkar’s residence and who was responsible for his abduction.