Police allege that the Navi Mumbai truck cleaner case involves planned abduction and evidence tampering, not a simple road rage incident, as Dilip Khedkar, father of ex-IAS officer Pooja Khedkar, faces serious organised crime allegations in court.
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MUMBAI: A routine road accident in Navi Mumbai has led to a high-profile legal drama involving allegations of kidnapping, deception, and obstruction of justice. This week, the courtroom saga of the now-infamous “truck cleaner kidnapping case” has cast new light on the controversial actions of Dilip Khedkar, father of former IAS officer Pooja Khedkar, and his wife, Manorama Khedkar.
The Incident
The case reportedly began on September 13, on Navi Mumbai’s Mulund-Airoli Road, when a Toyota Land Cruiser owned by Dilip Khedkar allegedly grazed a mixer truck. What could have been a routine road dispute allegedly escalated into a criminal affair.
Police allege that Dilip Khedkar assaulted the mixer driver and, in a shocking turn, forcibly took the truck’s cleaner, Prahlad Kumar, into his vehicle under the pretense of going to a police station. Instead, the cleaner was allegedly taken to Khedkar’s Pune bungalow and confined in a basement.
According to investigators, the act was pre-planned and deliberate, not a spontaneous road rage incident.
Resistance and Evasion
When police tracked the cleaner to the Khedkar residence in Pune, they were reportedly denied entry. Manorama Khedkar allegedly locked the gates and released dogs to intimidate the authorities. Despite this, the police managed to rescue Prahlad Kumar.
Dilip Khedkar and his driver were reportedly present during the police visit but fled the scene after promising,
“We’ll come to the police station ourselves.”
Meanwhile, a recorded phone call with Manorama Khedkar reportedly indicated attempts to distance themselves from the case:
“We have nothing to do with this case. You do whatever you want.”
The cleaner, understandably terrified, has reportedly been avoiding giving a full statement.
Criminal Background and Alleged Pattern
Authorities highlighted that both Dilip and Manorama Khedkar, though educated and former government officials, allegedly have criminal backgrounds. Previous cases include land-grabbing at gunpoint and other incidents involving their associates.
The police also alleged that the couple has been actively obstructing the investigation, including the disappearance of key items such as the bungalow’s DVR system, the SUV involved, and relevant mobile phones.
Bail Controversies and Misleading Claims
Manorama Khedkar was granted interim bail last Monday, but allegedly avoided all police contact thereafter. Police claimed she deliberately timed her appearance at the station after sunset to avoid lawful questioning.
The couple’s bail petitions also came under scrutiny:
- Manorama claimed the victim was treated well and provided with good food, while Prahlad Kumar reportedly said he was given stale food and released only after sustained police intervention.
- Dilip Khedkar’s argument that the dispute arose over ₹5,000 was questioned by police, who pointed out the implausibility: “Does any part of a Land Cruiser cost ₹5,000?”
These inconsistencies, the police argued, point to attempts to trivialise the incident and mislead the judiciary
Organised Crime Allegations
The police have framed the case not as a simple road rage incident but as a calculated act of organised crime, highlighting the couple’s influence and resources. Investigators questioned why, if the case were minor, the DVR system from the bungalow had been removed or destroyed, suggesting deliberate evidence tampering.
“Such an act by a retired government official shows that he has no fear of the law,”
the police asserted in court.
