Pune Police Cancel Arms Licence of Ex-IAS Puja Khedkar’s Mother Manorama Khedkar
Pune, 13th January 2026: Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar has ordered the cancellation of the arms licence of Manorama Khedkar, the mother of controversial and dismissed IAS officer Puja Khedkar, citing concerns over law and order and the potential misuse of the firearm.
The decision stems from a 2024 incident in Dhadawali village in Mulshi taluka, where Manorama Khedkar allegedly threatened a farmer with a pistol. Following the circulation of a video of the incident on social media, a case was registered against her and seven others at Paud Police Station, prompting action by the rural police.
In addition to the Mulshi case, criminal cases have also been registered against Manorama Khedkar at Rabale Police Station in Navi Mumbai and Chaturshringi Police Station in Pune. In view of these cases, Pune Police issued her a notice seeking an explanation as to why her arms licence should not be cancelled. Police officials said her reply was found to be unsatisfactory.
In his order, Commissioner Amitesh Kumar stated that Khedkar’s conduct demonstrated a disregard for the law and that there was a strong likelihood of her actions creating law and order problems in the future.
The order noted that her possession of a firearm could pose a threat to family members as well as the general public, and that there was a risk of misuse of the weapon in violation of licence conditions. “She is not a fit person to possess a firearm,” the order stated, while directing the cancellation of the licence.
Following the cancellation, Manorama Khedkar reportedly told the police that her life was under threat and held the Police Commissioner responsible for any harm to her. She also informed the authorities of her intention to begin an indefinite hunger strike from January 26 in protest against the decision. She was later called to the Police Commissioner’s office to present her case, during which she reportedly arrived accompanied by cameras, according to sources.
Meanwhile, a separate and serious incident has added a new dimension to the case. The Khedkar family owns a bungalow in the National Housing Society area of Aundh. Late on Saturday night, a domestic help allegedly mixed sedatives in the food of Manorama Khedkar, her husband Dilip Khedkar, another household staff member, and the driver. After they lost consciousness, the accused allegedly tied them up and fled with jewellery from the house.
Police are investigating the robbery and said all possible angles are being examined, particularly in the context of the recent cancellation of the arms licence and the ongoing controversies surrounding the Khedkar family.
