Bombay High Court Reinstates Pistol License of Manorama Khedkar, Overturning Pune Police’s Decision
Pune, 3rd December 2024: The Bombay High Court has overturned the decision of the Pune Police Commissioner to cancel the pistol license of Manorama Khedkar, the mother of former trainee IAS officer Puja Khedkar. This ruling follows a legal battle after a video showing Manorama threatening another person with a pistol during a land dispute went viral.
The case against Manorama Khedkar, a resident of Aundh, gained significant attention after the viral video emerged, showing her brandishing a pistol in Mulshi taluka. The incident prompted the Pune Police to take action and cancel her pistol license. However, her legal team argued in court that the Pune Police had not followed the proper legal procedure when making this decision.
In its judgment, a bench of Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice Prithviraj Chavan concluded that the cancellation of Manorama Khedkar’s pistol license was legally flawed. The court declared the action null and void, stating that the police’s decision was made without following the due process outlined by law.
The controversy surrounding the Khedkar family began with the dismissal of Puja Khedkar from the civil service six months ago, which brought to light several other allegations against the family. Among these was the viral video of Manorama Khedkar, which sparked public outcry. Following the video, Manorama Khedkar fled the scene but was arrested by the police in Raigad district on July 18, 2024. She was later granted bail in August 2024, with the condition that she refrain from visiting Mulshi taluka.
Meanwhile, Puja Khedkar’s case has raised further questions about misconduct, including allegations of her misuse of government privileges, such as demanding separate cabins, vehicles, and beacon lights on her private cars, and using fraudulent documents to appear for the UPSC examination. These accusations have added to the controversy surrounding the Khedkar family’s actions and legal troubles.
