A truck driver who went missing after an accident in Navi Mumbai has been found at the Pune residence of sacked IAS officer Puja Khedkar, adding to the controversies surrounding her family.

In September last year, the Centre dismissed Puja Khedkar from the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) after the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) cancelled her selection.

Investigations said she had wrongly claimed benefits under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) and disability quota. The UPSC also barred her for life from appearing in the civil services exam, stating she had faked her identity to take the test multiple times.

The latest incident began after an accident between a mixer truck and a car at the Airoli signal in Navi Mumbai.

According to police, truck driver Prahlad Kumar’s vehicle hit a car with registration number MH 12 RT 5000. Soon after, “two people in the car forcibly made Prahlad Kumar sit in their car and took him with them,” officers said.

When the police traced the car, it was found parked at Puja Khedkar’s home in Pune’s Chatushringi area. The missing driver was rescued from there.

Police said they faced resistance from Puja Khedkar’s mother, Manorama Khedkar, during the rescue.

Officers alleged that she misbehaved with them, refused to open the door, and tried to obstruct their action. Following this, the police issued summons to her, directing her to appear at the station for questioning.

This is not the first controversy linked to the Khedkar family. Last year, a video of Manorama Khedkar brandishing a gun during a land dispute in Raigad went viral. The video caused public outrage and led to her arrest from Hirkaniwadi village.

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