Prosecution Opposes Bail for Manorama Khedkar in Criminal Intimidation Case

The prosecution has opposed the bail plea of Manorama Khedkar, involved in a criminal intimidation case, citing her political and economic influence. The court will decide on the bail application on Friday. Manorama and her husband were booked for various offenses, including unlawful assembly and intimidation, following a land dispute incident.

The prosecution on Thursday opposed the bail plea of Manorama Khedkar, mother of former probationary IAS officer Puja Khedkar, in a case pertaining to criminal intimidation.

The bail plea of Khedkar is currently under consideration before additional sessions judge A N Mare.

Assistant Public Prosecutor Kundlik Choure argued that the accused's political and economic influence could lead to potential tampering with evidence if bail were granted.

Moreover, Choure informed the court that the sections under the Arms Act are non-bailable.

The court is anticipated to pronounce its order on the bail application on Friday.

Pune rural Police launched a search for Manorama and her husband Dilip Khedkar after a video surfaced showing her allegedly threatening people with a gun over a land dispute at Dhadwali village in Pune's Mulshi tehsil in 2023.

The Paud police in Pune rural booked the Khedkar couple and five others under IPC sections, including 307, 144 (unlawful assembly armed with a deadly weapon), 147 (rioting), and 506 (criminal intimidation), besides invoking the Arms Act.

Manorama was apprehended from a lodge in Hirkaniwadi village near Mahad in Raigad district.

While Manorama is in judicial custody, Dilip Khedkar has secured anticipatory bail in the case.

The UPSC on Wednesday announced the cancellation of Puja Khedkar's provisional candidature and debarred her from all future examinations or selections.

(With inputs from agencies.)